Page 19 - 4.2 Abhivyakti
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Our planet is under strain, be it from phenomena like climate change, loss of
biodiversity, pollution, or over-exploitation of natural resources. These
problems are not far-off and abstract; they are the problems our children will
face in their own lifetimes. As guides, it really becomes our responsibility to
prepare them, and doing so is much more than only educating them about
these problems; it is more about imparting them with skills and a mindset to
be part of the solution.
Sustainability education nurtures in students critical thinking, problem-solving
skills, and creativity. It makes children look at the world with both strategies—
responsibility and innovation. When kids understand that implication of action
that is if they see how they are inextricably linked to the overall health of the
earth—they start choosing based on being part of a future that has
sustainability. More importantly, infusing sustainability into our curriculum
creates a learning environment replete with relevance and dynamism. When
academics co-relate with the issues in the real world, students will begin to
gain a sense of ownership over their study.
They start to experience empowerment when teachers assign them projects
which yield tangible outcomes. In addition, there is a feeling of community and
common mission when students and families, joined with teachers, move
toward achieving their set goals. Sustainability lessons show us more than
what happens in the environment; they show us about interconnectedness
and justice in relation to caring for one another.
To this end, I urge everyone to realize the potential of value that surrounds the
importance of education on sustainability. Let us empower our students to
become the architects of a better world, where the principles of sustainability
guide not only their acts but also their hearts and minds. We can raise a
generation that not just rises to the challenges of our times but is, in fact,
catalytic toward a brighter and more sustainable future.
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