The threats caused by the use of fossil fuels as primary fuel source, the emissions of carbon dioxide and the greenhouse effect, the overheating of the planet, the inappropriate waste management and other dangers are just some of the subjects that have to become a priority in the youth’s education and interests.
The road to green and sustainable future, according to Antonio Jovanovski, a member of the Go Green civic organization, starts with the creation of educated generations that will strive for sustainability through the implementation of energy efficiency and green technologies.
“We are starting with research and analysis of the educational programs for elementary schools, and the practical proposals about what concept of education concerning climate change will be proposed for the competent institutions will result out of the conclusions from this research that will last until September this year. From past analyses that we had made in 2017, from a perspective of green workplaces, the biggest demand shall be for experts in the area of energy efficiency in buildings i.e. around 4 000 jobs by 2035” said Jovanovski.
Apart from the research, an inter-institutional working group was formed, which consists of representatives of the Bureau for Education Development, the Center for Expert Education and Training, The Education Ministry, the Ministry of Environment, teachers, and representatives of the NGO sector. The working group will support the research, will analyze successful practices in other countries, will propose suggestions, directions and concrete measures for integration of the education about climate change into the current education programs. Also, a data basis for teachers who will show an interest to take part in climate change education will be created.
The idea is to implement lessons about climate change in all school subjects and to develop inter-disciplinary subjects, where along with tge existing lessons, examples and materials will be provided about how to learn about climate change as well. According to Natalija Aceska, an adviser at the Bureau for Education Development, the education about sustainable development is interdisciplinary. It’s a school of life, through which young people gain skills in how to behave, rules, stances, and values.
“In the current education programs there are segments concerning sustainable development with the following three aspects: ecological, economic, and social aspect, but I think we aren’t aware of its implementation. it is necessary that the teachers and the professors be able to recognize it and to implement it in their subjects. For example, a math teacher can teach a lesson in math and it can make a calculation of carbon footprint and at the same time explain all mathematical functions and what is a carbon footprint. By doing that it will summarize learning goals in two areas: mathematics and sustainable development” stressed Aceska during the video conference on the subject of “The Significance of Education in Dealing with Climate Change”.
