Sustainable development in the Indian education system

WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION?

To quote a well-known fact, education is the key to sustainable development. Sustainable development, which covers various social, economic and environmental aspects, is highly dependent on human capital formation, to meet the present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Education helps to build a better quality of human capital, which help in the process of economic and social welfare with minimum damage to our environment and ecology. The framework of Sustainable Development education is essentially built on the concept of understanding real-life situations rather than just mere acquisition of facts. And thus, it is essential to achieve sustainable development and make it a part of the education system. 

WHY IS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IMPORTANT IN THE INDIAN EDUCATION CIRRCULUM?

Education of sustainable development is an emerging discipline in India as well as globally. Children in India often grow up in hazardous environment that is lacking in terms of clean air, proper waste management, infrastructural facilities, etc. This makes it essential that schools in India impart knowledge about issues that threaten planet sustainability. By doing so, we cultivate ideas in the mind of the young generation to practice sustainable activities that empower them for the future. [1]

EDUCATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA

The Indian education system has tried to inculcate environmental sustainability into its curriculum for a long time now. The Government of India has inculcated the principle of sustainability in its various policies and programmes it has released over the course of time. The Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) solely had the charge of integrating environmental education in the curriculum. However, the vast country that India is, Government realised that a single working body cannot solely manage to integrate environmental concerns, and hence, several bodies and government departments, for instance, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) slowly joined hands to promote environmental sustainability in the Indian education curriculum at all levels of education.

A programme with the aim to promote transformative education and environmental leadership, Paryavaran Mitra (PM) was launched in 2008. This programme seeks to ‘create a network of 20 million young green leaders to meet the challenges of environmental sustainability at their spheres of influence’. The programme has had a massive outreach to various schools in India. [2]

A massive number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are working to promote education of sustainable development. Some of these organisations are Centre for Environment Education (CEE) which is the nodal agency for implementing UNDESD in India; The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI); Bharati Vidya Peeth (BVP); Centre for Science and Environment (CSE); World Wide fund (WWF); National Council for Science Museums (NSCM) and National Council of Education, Research and Training (NCERT). [3] These organizations work with schools, colleges, youth groups to promote education of sustainable development through training programmes for students as well as teachers. 

The process of integrating sustainable development in education is a challenge and opportunity to strike a balance between ecology and economy. It will widen the horizon for a holistic development of India in disciplines of social, economic and environmental sustainability. In conclusion, sustainable development in the Indian education system shall ensure that the human race may stay and survive in this earth for a little longer period. 

SOURCES:

[1] https://www.mapsofindia.com/my-india/education/sustainable-development-education-in-schools

[2]https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1167824.pdf

[3] https://en.reset.org/knowledge/advancing-sustainable-development-through-education-india