Environmental Science 3(3+0)

Environmental education

• Environmental education is a learning process that increases people's knowledge and awareness about the environment and associated challenges, develops the necessary skills and expertise to address the challenges, and fosters attitudes, motivations, and commitments to make informed decisions and take responsible action.

• Environmental education embraces all disciplines, and covers all levels and types of education including life-long learning. It is planned and implemented through several programmes and Sectors within the organization, notably the Science Sector and the Education Sector.

• Approach to EE favours enhancement of critical thinking, problem-solving and effective decision-making skills as well as teaching individuals to make informed and responsible decisions. For this reason, it is essential to foster links between EE in the formal curriculum and projects in non-formal education. Projects such as the establishment of environmental clubs in schools, greening of school-yards, environmental awards, journalistic activities and others, are essential to sensitize young people to their immediate environmental as well as many other complex issues related to sustainable development.

• The environment is an integral part of science and technology education. Thus, the Section for Science and Technology Education works on concrete societal issues related to the environment, health and development, focusing on formal and non formal EE in secondary as well as technical & vocational education, and collaborates with other divisions and Sectors which focus on other levels of education. Activities are also developed in collaboration with relevant IGOs, NGOs and governmental organizations.