The Purpose of Education: Australian and Slovenian perspectives in Education for Sustainability
Main Article Content
Abstract
Clarity of purpose in education drives sensible decisions about curriculum, policy, infrastructure, funding and training. This article proposes that sustainability must be central to the purpose of education in the 21st century, and it looks at two examples of how this is being incorporated into schools in Slovenia and Australia. Cross-curriculum approaches lie at the heart of effective integration in both countries: these connect current school subjects, and they help form the ethos of the whole school. The National Education Institute of Slovenia (NEIS) has developed a cross-curriculum concept by emphasizing Education for Sustainable Development as a model called the ESD School. The structure of an ESD School can be adapted for all national curriculums. In Australia, a new National Curriculum for schools requires sustainability to be integrated into all curriculum areas. Schools are taking this up in ways suitable to culture, leadership and other contextual variations. It is the opinion of the authors that schools must have a sustainability purpose and a solid model for achievement if our students are to learn the skills and values for a sustainable and safe future.
Metrics
Article Details
The publication of the journal is carried out in accordance with Czech law, in particular the Press Act No. 46/2000 Coll., the Copyright Act No. 121/2000 Coll., and the laws of the European Union. In accordance with the relevant provisions of Act No. 121/2000 Coll., the Copyright Act, as amended, the rights to published texts are always held by their author. The journal has only the right to use the text in the sense of its distribution through its printed and electronic form, in accordance with the provisions of Article 12(4)(b) of the Copyright Act.
References
• ACARA - Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (2011). The Australian Curriculum, www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/CrossCurriculumPriorities
• Barber, M. (2009), The impossible and the necessary: challenges for educators. Are you ready for this? Melbourne: CSE.
• Barnes, J. (2008). Cross-Curricular Learning. London: Sage Publication.
• Burk, A., (2011) TED Conversations http://www.ted.com/conversations/7491/in_your_opinion_what_should_t.html
• Engadine High School, A World Worth Living In, www.ehs.nsw.edu.au/en/curriculum/a-world-worth-living-in
• EU Council (2002). Detailed work programme on the follow-up of the objectives of education and training systems in Europe (ET 2010). Official Journal C 142/01 of 14.06.2002.
• EU Council (2009).Conclusions of 12 May 2009 on a strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training (ET 2020). Official Journal C 119 of 28.5.2009.
• FNBE - Finnish National Board of Education (2004). National Core Curriculum. Helsinki: FNBE.
• Hicks, D., Holden, C. (2007). Teaching the Global Dimension. Oxord, UK: Routledge.
• HotRock www.thehotrock.org.au
• Jensen, D. (2012) Loaded Words. Orion Magazine. March/April 2012, http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/6698
• Ministrstvo za šolstvo in šport (2007). Smernice vzgoje in izobraževanja za trajnostni razvoj od predšolske vzgoje do douniverzitetnega izobraževanja. Republika Slovenija. July 2007.
• Naji, M. (2011). Slovenian Global School Model in Proceedings of the International Symposium on Competencies of Global Citizens. Helsinki: FNBE.
• Nielsen, T. (2013). Out from the cave: have we lost the purpose of education? http://theconversation.com/out-from-the-cave-have-we-lost-the-purpose-of-education-12374
• QCA - Qualification and Curriculum Authority (2007). Developing the Global Dimension in the Curriculum. London: QCA.