To raise awareness of the importance of climate change issues Minister of Education: Integrating climate change issues and raising awareness of their importance in educational curricula
In implementation of the directives of His Excellency President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, the President of the Republic, on the necessity of uniting the efforts of the Egyptian state to confront climate change, Egypt will host the 27th session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 27), from 6 to 18 November.
Dr. Reda Hegazy, Minister of Education and Technical Education, said that this important event is on one of the most important issues of concern to humanity, and affects the present and future of this planet, where it originates and life, which is the issue of "climate change", stressing that we are trying together in a framework of joint cooperation, Finding ways to survive towards a better future for future generations, to ensure better levels of quality of life within the framework of a healthy, safe environment, and green sustainable development.
Hegazy added that the ministry has a strategic plan to raise the awareness of students and teachers of the importance of climate change issues, and to integrate the climate change factor and the environmental dimension in all its projects and curricula, noting that a training and awareness program was implemented during the month of August, on the concepts of climate change issues (ToT) for a number of (150) trainers, through two training packages, one for teachers and the other for managers, under the title: (Supporting the skills of teachers and managers in developing student awareness of climate changes, in light of the requirements of sustainable development).
He explained that the training package included a discussion of environmental concepts and key climate issues, such as (climate changes, biodiversity, and environmental sustainability), and the information and sub-knowledge it contains, as this bag includes - in addition to abstract information - developing the skills of teachers and managers in building a group activities associated with the curricular topics they teach or supervise; To provide students with positive attitudes towards environmental issues and its protection, and to discover innovative ways to achieve this, consistent with their academic stages, abilities, skills, and ages, while applying them on the ground, and spreading awareness among peers, the family, and the surrounding community.
He added, that there is an entire chapter in the curriculum for the third grade of primary school on the effects of environmental changes in terms of describing those changes and comparing natural environments, as well as ways of adaptation of animals in natural environments, and in the social studies curriculum there are many lessons that deal with the most important environmental problems facing resources Natural pollution in Egypt, such as air, soil and water pollution, the causes and consequences of its occurrence, of which climate change is one of its consequences.
Hegazy pointed out that the Arabic language curriculum for the first grade of primary school urges students to plant trees, as the development of children's awareness of facing climate changes is by encouraging planting trees to preserve the environment in order to achieve the "Be Green" campaign towards a sustainable healthy environment, and in the Arabic language curriculum for the third grade of primary school. There are special lessons to raise awareness of the importance of natural reserves as a kind of rare environmental wealth that must be protected from climate change, as well as a lesson on “recycling”, which represents one of the important recommendations issued by the United Nations to confront climate change at the institutional and individual levels.
On raising awareness of the importance of renewable energy, there is an entire topic about renewable energy in the Arabic language curriculum for the fourth grade of primary school to raise awareness of its importance, dimensions, the importance of its use and its broad effects on reducing emissions, which is a major cause of climate change, as well as raising awareness of the negative effects of desertification and drought in the Arabic language curriculum for the class. Fifth primary.
He continued, "The Ministry of Education and Technical Education organized an art competition for students from different governorates of Egypt to express climate issues through artworks, and qualifiers were carried out among students and the selection of the best projects, and an art exhibition was implemented at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilizations with the participation of the Minister of Culture and the Minister of Environment, and came under The title of "Egypt's Children's Message to the World", a number of projects were selected and their projects will be presented on the sidelines of the COP 27 conference in Sharm El-Sheikh.
He pointed out that in the final stage, more than 1,000 students from all governorates participated in the "National Art Competition for Art on Climate Change", and submitted more than 1,700 paintings, as the art exhibition for school students on climate change is an opportunity for children to express their views and concerns about climate change. Climate and environment issues, which is part of the strategic cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Technical Education and UNICEF that aims to raise awareness of 25 million children to work towards preserving their environment, by providing training courses on climate change to 350,000 teachers and school principals within their administration educational.
The Ministry also started implementing a smart and environmentally friendly community schools project in cooperation with the World Food Program in Matrouh Governorate, and the delivery of fresh water to schools through rainwater harvesting wells, and these schools were converted to solar energy by installing solar panels on their roofs, which ensures a regular supply of electricity ( 400 kWh/month/school), and youth from the targeted communities were trained to maintain
The Ministry also started implementing a smart and environmentally friendly community schools project in cooperation with the World Food Program in Matrouh Governorate, and the delivery of fresh water to schools through rainwater harvesting wells, and these schools were converted to solar energy by installing solar panels on their roofs, which ensures a regular supply of electricity ( 400 kWh/month/school), youth from the targeted communities were also trained in color maintenance as well as agribusiness as an employment opportunity, and internet connectivity for online learning.
He explained that the Green Schools project is being implemented in cooperation with a funding tree association from the World Food Program, which targets 100 schools in the governorates of Cairo, Giza and Qalyubia, and cooperates in establishing and equipping school roofs with simple plants, and preparing an open classroom on the roof of the school, as well as implementing renewable energy in cooperation with a bank German reconstruction and funding from the European Union, which targets a number of students of technical secondary education and general education (primary and basic education) in 8 governorates (Beheira - Qena - Fayoum - Beni Suef - Minya - Assiut - Sohag - Sharqia), and the implementation of the solar energy project for 116 School.
The Ministry of Education and Technical Education inaugurated the first models of the Distinguished Schools of Egypt project in Suez, which provides an exceptional environment in schools with the best quality for students, as the schools contain playgrounds and gymnasiums to attract students, as well as developing external facades, bathrooms, corridors, doors and a clean solar energy system for energy.
Regarding the ministry’s participation in the COP27 Climate Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, the minister explained that he will participate in a session entitled “The Project of Schools Open for All that Support Technology” on November 9, to exchange international visions on the post-pandemic direction regarding the digital transformation of education models in the context of change Climate with a shared vision of enhancing the resilience of education systems, discovering synergies and possibilities for sharing resources across countries and partners.
The Ministry will also participate in the activities of the session entitled "Climate Change Education: Motivating Children to Take Action in Egypt on Climate Change", which will present the Ministry's joint efforts with its partners in the field of climate education.
On November 10, the Ministry will participate in a session entitled “Tackling Climate Action by Providing Education and Giving Equal Opportunities for All”, with the aim of highlighting the COP27 competition for students on climate action and highlighting the winners, as well as participating in a ministerial session entitled “Demanding Youth for Quality Climate Education” “, with the aim of promoting dialogue between youth and policy makers to encourage countries to ensure quality.
The Ministry will also participate in a session entitled “Unleashing the Power of Education for the Future of the Planet” to highlight the recently launched Comprehensive School Safety Framework as an effective climate-adaptive solution to protect education systems.
The Ministry concludes its participation in a session entitled "Accelerating Climate Change and Green Sustainable Development Education related to knowledge and use in Africa and the Middle East and North Africa" with the aim of gaining experience in green technology and opening green job opportunities to implement climate-related and sustainable development goals, especially in rural areas.