| 14/12/2005
- For the first time Australia has a nationally-agreed
vision for environmental education in its schools.
In a joint statement today, the Australian
Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian
Campbell, and the Minister for Education, Science and
Training, Dr Brendan Nelson, announced the vision for
environmental education nationwide.
Senator Campbell said Educating for
a Sustainable Future: A National Environmental Education
Statement for Australian Schools would provide a national
reference point for schools and teachers across Australia
to follow.
“It provides a consistent approach
for curriculum developers, teachers, schools, communities
and broader education systems to educating students throughout
their schooling about the environment and the importance
of living sustainably,” he said.
“The state of the environment is one
of the most pressing and enduring issues facing this and
future generations. As Australians we have an obligation
to ensure that what we do is sustainable.
“It is important that students receive
science-based quality information on environmental issues.”
Dr Nelson said environmental education
has been an important aspect of school life in Australia
for more than 30 years.
“Environmental education helps young
people to develop a caring attitude towards the natural
world. However, so far the approach to environment education
has been mixed,” he said.
“This 32-page document is the result
of extensive consultation, research and development with
teachers, communities, organisations, governments and
industry groups and is compatible with existing state
and territory policies and programmes.
“It also complements other environmental
initiatives including the Australian Government’s National
Action Plan for Environmental Education and the intergovernmental
Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative,” Dr Nelson
said.
Both Senator Campbell and Dr Nelson
welcomed the release of the statement to coincide with
the first year of the United Nations Decade of Education
for Sustainable Development.”
To view the statement visit www.deh.gov.au/education/publications/sustainable-future.html |
