Status, Issues and Recommendations on Environmental Education : Perspectives from Higher Education

Ruth S. Guzman, Ph.D.Chairperson, Phil. Assoc. of Tertiary Level Education Institutions in Environmental Protection and Management (PATLEPAM)

National Environmental Action Plan (1992-2002)

The main thrusts of the Plan was on Curriculum and Materials Development Program; Research and Development Program; Training Program, IEC and Social Advocacy Program and Upgrading of Facilities and Equipment.

Salient Features of NEEAP (1992-2002)

Integration of Environmental Education in the Curriculum Framework for the Formal (Basic and Tertiary) and Non-Formal Education

Networking and collaboration through the institutionalization of the environmental education networks

Seminar-workshops and Teachers’ Trainings on Environmental Education

Salient Features of NEEAP (1992-2002)

Annual conferences with themes on environmental issues of current interest and tertiary level teachers as main audience

Teachers’ Trainings for faculty and staff of Technology Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA)

Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Programs

Publication of locally-authored books on environmental education and sustainable development

ASEAN Environmental Education Action Plan (2000-2005)

As one target area under the AEEAP, the goal of formal education is the incorporation of environmental education at all levels of formal education.

Objectives under the ASEAN Plan (2000-2005)

To gather baseline information regarding the status of environmental education in formal education in ASEAN

To institutionalize environmental education at all levels of formal education

To develop an environmental education curriculum framework for all levels of formal education in ASEAN member-countries

To develop and produce support materials for environmental education

Philippine commitments under the AEEAP target areas…

Teacher training on the use of the environmental education curriculum framework

Materials production on environmental education for use in the formal and non-formal schools

Promote the subject “Environment and Sustainable Development” for consideration in the General Education curriculum of higher education

Philippine commitments under the AEEAP target areas…

Assessment of the implementation of Environmental Education in basic education for selected schools nationwide.

Development of compendium of environmentally-oriented lessons for higher education

Preparation of Philippine inputs to the ASEAN Environmental Education Inventory Database

The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (2005-2014)

The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation has proclaimed the ten year period for 2005-2014 as the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD)

Domains of DESD

Basic education reorienting existing education programs developing public awareness and

understanding of sustainability vocational and professional training

especially for business and industry

Key Themes for the DESD overcoming poverty gender equality health promotion environmental

conservation and protection

rural transformation human rights cultural diversity

intercultural understanding and peace

sustainable production and consumption

information and communication technologies

The Philippine Agenda 21The enhanced Philippine Agenda 21 also

emphasizes the integration of sustainable development education into the formal curriculum under its five-fold aims of: poverty reduction social equity good governance and empowerment peace and solidarity ecological integrity

Issues and Perspectives from the Formal Sector

Catalytic role of networking and collaboration among tertiary educational institution for environmental protection and management (i.e., PATLEPAM, EENP) capability building of member schools for

environmental education and sustainable development

connecting academe to business and industry

Issues and Perspectives from the Formal Sector

Catalytic role (con’t…) promotion of community participation and

public awareness with respective clients of member-schools

contribution to policy formulation production and distribution of relevant and

appropriate EE materials Sustainability of the networks and funding

Gaps in the NEEAP for the Formal Sector

Reprinting of foreign textbooks on EE Value formation study for EE Scholarship program and establishment of

scholarship fund Upgrading of EE facilities and equipment Philippine Environmental Education

Database

Recommendations

Institutionalization of the integration of environmental education in CHED and Department of Education

Stronger networking, collaboration and partnerships

Review of existing curriculum and infusion of EE courses/modules

Recommendations

Innovative programs such as Eco-Corps (Environmental Conservation through Citizens’ Organized Participation and Support)

Review of teaching methodologies and approaches to EE

Inter-phasing the formal curricular programs in the context of the DESD

Thank You!!!