Enquiry-Based Approach to ESDGC

Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship (ESDGC)

Following up from the Welsh Education report 'Making the Most of Learning' (DCELLS, 2008a) the Welsh Government have introduced ESDGC, which educates students about the importance of the world around them and how they can make a difference. Welsh Government (2012) believes that ESDGC is a way of developing citizen's skills to help create a better environment to for the world that they live in now and for the future. The ESDGC is taught and learnt through using seven interconnected themes, such as;

• Health
• Wealth and Poverty
• Identity and Culture
• Climate Changes
• Natural Environment 
• Choices and Decision 
• Consumption and Waste

DCELLS (2008b) expresses that the ESDGC is not be taught as a separate subject but to be integrated within core subjects and the ethos should be embraced throughout the school, meaning that the school will encourage students to recycle, have sustainable play grounds, use energy efficient lighting and so on. To make it an effect approach to the learning environment of the pupils, there is the need of more than just the school to promote the methods of a sustainable society, there is the involvement of the parents, carers, governors and non teaching staff. One major aspect to the development of integrating the ESDGC within education is that it will help students to understand how to make informed decisions and it will also encourage to help students to have a knowledge about the different concepts to the rights and needs od social justice around the world (DCELLS, 2008c).  

There are a number of different schemes that schools can get involved with to contribute to ESDGC. Many of the schemes help promote particular issues that effect the world and the ways that we can prevent these from happening. For instance Fairtrade schools help promote the knowledge to students about global issues, and ways for the students to get involved with making a difference to the fairtrade around the world to less unfortunate countries than the UK. The Fairtrade foundation (2014) believes that young students are the main influences to help prevent unfair trade around the globe, they also believe that the world can become a powerful and connected environment which everyone can live in harmony.




References 
Image 1. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1164512/Windfarm-windbag-Ed-Miliband-claims-trying-halt-turbines-unacceptable-wearing-seatbelt.html
Image 2. http://www.friendsoftarrywilepark.org/environmental-education    
Image 3. http://www.crickhowell-hs.powys.sch.uk/news/school-news/5707/fairtrade-school/  

DCELLS (2008a) Making the Most of Learning: Implements to a revised curriculum. Welsh Assembly Government. Available at: http://wales.gov.uk/dcells/publications/curriculum_and_assessment/arevisedcurriculumforwales/nationalcurriculum/makingthemostoflearningnc/Making_Standard_WEB_(E).pdf?lang=en 

DCELLS (2008b) ESDGC: A common understanding for schools. Welsh Assemble Government. Available at: http://wales.gov.uk/docs/dcells/publications/081204commonunderstschoolsen.pdf  

DCELLS (2008c) ESDGC: Information for teacher trainees and new teachers in Wales. Welsh Assembly Government. Available at: http://wales.gov.uk/docs/dcells/publications/081204infoteachertraineesen.pdf  

Fairtrade Schools (2014) Retrieved 21st March 2014 from Becoming a fairtrade school. http://schools.fairtrade.org.uk/fairtrade-schools/become-fairtrade-school  

Welsh Government (2012) Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship (ESDGC) Retrieved March 21st 2014 from  http://wales.gov.uk/topics/educationandskills/allsectorpolicies/europeanandinternational/sustainabledevelop/?lang=en