Tomorrow today; 2010 - unesdoc - Unesco

Image: Carlos VasquezChild-friendly school built in Myanmar after Cyclone Nargistional exam-driven method of teaching practised in the Maldives,with great emphasis on ‘rote’ learning. As a result, an assessmentrevealed that, although communities were well aware of environmentalproblems, they did not know how to take action to addressthem. Addressing this gap through a more child-centred learningapproach, the government, in partnership with UNICEF, designeda revised curriculum and teacher training course with emphasison the development of knowledge and skills and exploration ofattitudes and values through activity-oriented, inquiry-basedteaching. The new child-centred learning approach will facilitatestudents to understand the world around them and think for asustainable future.Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar in 2008, destroying hundreds ofschools. In partnership with the government, UNICEF took on theproject of re-building primary schools in some of the most affecteddistricts so that they could withstand future storm surges and earthquakes.The schools were built sustainably with local materials. Inaddition to providing the children with a safe and protective schoolenvironment, the new schools took on other aspects promoted bythe Child Friendly Schooling approach, including local participationin the construction process and the use of the school by the communityin times of emergency. Most of these new schoolshave increased children’s registration and attendance.Some have doubled their student populations and arealso attended by children from other villages.Preparing children for a sustainable futureChildren form a large portion of the world’s population:27 per cent – or 1.8 billion people – are underthe age of 15. 8 These children, especially poor childrenin developing countries, are disproportionately vulnerableto the impacts of environmental degradation andclimate change and will have to live with the consequencesof today’s decisions. The DESD represents thepower of education to unleash the hidden potential ofthese vulnerable children. They are the ones who canmake the world into a better, more sustainable place tolive. A quality education based on the child rights principlesof democratic participation, child-centredness,inclusion and safe, protective environments is the keyto unlocking children’s potential to become leaders ofa more sustainable future for all.[ 132 ]