Bonn Declaration sets revolution in education

BONN – Education should be able to provide people with the needed competency for sustainable living, participation in society and decent work.

This was the general consensus of the 600 delegates to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), who stressed the need for accelerated effort for 21st century education.

The participants gathered March 30 to April 2 at the World Conference Center here for the mid-decade assessment of ESD programs in the UNESCO cluster countries of Asia Pacific, Africa, Europe, North America and Latin America.

ESD, the participants pointed out, is a good investment and can be a life-saving measure especially in post-conflict and least developed countries.

“We need a shared commitment to education that empowers people for change. The Education for All agenda underlines the fact that the availability of basic education is critical for sustainable development. Through education and lifelong learning we can achieve lifestyles based on economic and social justice,” the participants said in a statement.

The ESD Bonn Declaration’s call for action on both policy and practical levels underscores the need to re-orient education and training systems to address sustainability concerns.

“Despite unprecedented economic growth in the 20^th century, persistent poverty and inequality still affect too many people. The global financial, economic and food crises highlight the risks of unsustainable economic development models and practices based on short-term gains. Unsustainable production and consumption patterns are creating ecological impacts that compromise the options of the current and future generations. These challenges are interlinked and their resolution requires stronger political commitment and decisive action. We have knowledge, technology and the skills available to turn the situation around,” the group said.

“Education for sustainable development is setting a new direction for education and learning for all in the 21st century. ESD helps societies to address different priorities and issues including water, energy, climate change, disaster and risk reduction, loss of biodiversity, food crises, health risks, social vulnerability and insecurity. It is critical for the development of new economic thinking,” the group said.

Ministers of Education, UNESCO secretaries-general and their delegations, together with UN agency heads met with UNESCO assistant director general for education Nicolas Burnett, Division Director of UN Priorities Mark Richmond, DESD Monitoring and Evaluation team Daniella Tilbury, Arjen Wals, Andreas Karamazov, Abdel Osman, Derek Elias, Teeluck Bhuwanee, and Astrid Hollandez, representing all continents of the world. 

During the first five years of the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) 2005-2009, the Philippine UNESCO National Commission had proposed the establishment of the Southeast Asian Center for Lifelong Learning for Sustainable Development (SEA-CLLSD). 

DepEd Undersecretary Vilma Labrador is the ESD coordinator while this writer is the ESD focal point for the Philippines.

In support of the DESD, President Arroyo signed Executive Order 483 establishing the SEA-CLLSD. 

It was simultaneously activated with those of the ten Southeast Asian countries after frequent visits, consultations, and mapping of best practices in formal and non-formal education using the century-old scientific Montessori system replicated successfully in the Philippines by the 43-year old O.B. Montessori Center – the SEA-CLLSD National Laboratory.

The Bonn delegates were delighted with the ESD Philippine exhibit of the SEA-CLLSD.

The “Teach the Mother, Teach the Nation” illustrated manual attracted delegates of developing countries since the 20 other booths only displayed documents and posters.

The Filipino Ladies of the Knights of Rizal, Bonn Chapter, led by its president Jenny Pluckebaum and Eva Mkraw, also assisted the delegates to the Philippine ESD booth.

Meantime, the National EFA Committee composed of representatives of Philippine government agencies, has experienced ESD in action in the SEA-CLLSD National Laboratory. 

Several of these representatives would like their offices to have a Pagsasarili preschool for their personnel.

The Philippines was cited by Japanese Ambassador Matsumoto in Paris.

“You are way ahead in your ESD progress,” Matsumoto said, noting that ESD teacher training for public preschool teachers and DSWD day care center workers has increased to over 130 self-sufficiency preschools all over Luzon and is being injected into six Visayan teacher training universities this year.

The Bonn participants to the World ESD Conference have urged UNESCO to enhance its leadership and coordination role for DESD.