“Originally from environmental education in the 1970s, Education for Sustainability has grown from an awareness of natural ecosystems and their degradation to equipping all people with the knowledge, skills, and understanding necessary to make decisions based upon a consideration of their full environmental, social, and economic implications” (Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage, and Arts, 2009) (In Scott, 2009).
On top of that, through a comprehensive literature review and analysis of the Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), it is evident that the concept of a sustainable curriculum encompasses multiple dimensions, which can be synthesized into the following definition: Sustainable Curriculum provides learners with the knowledge, skills, values, and agency to address global challenges including climate change, unsustainable use of resources, and inequality.
According to (Hayes& Reinders, 2020), sustainable learning extends beyond the acquisition and retention of knowledge and skills; it embodies a continuous, purposeful, responsive, and proactive learning process where learners actively adapt their knowledge and skill base to evolving circumstances.
On the other hand, lifelong learning reinforces the true meaning of the concept of sustainable learning. Sustainable education, whether formal or informal, continually renews itself by embedding concepts, values, and practices of sustainability into curriculum and instruction.
A sustainable curriculum lays the foundation for education that transcends traditional boundaries. It integrates principles of sustainability across subject areas, emphasizing critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and global citizenship.
This curriculum design encourages students to engage in experiential learning, incorporating field trips and hands-on experiences that connect theory with real-world challenges. It can be emphasized that education is a lifelong journey of discovery, both inside and outside the classroom.
For instance: Through a single field trip, a student may learn more about life than any classroom lecture ever could. In other words, the sustainable curriculum transcends beyond traditional curriculum objectives and enhances the role of anticipatory learning. This necessitates a different preparation and training for teachers in the future.
In conclusion, a curriculum for a sustainable future in education is a vital response to the challenges of recent times. Sustainable curriculum design is a journey of transformation, empowering students to become stewards of the planet.
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