Bandar Seri Begawan - Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is a concept that aims to help people develop the attitudes, skills and knowledge so that they can make informed decisions for the benefit of themselves and others, now and in the future.

The United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014), for which UNESCO is the lead agency, seeks to integrate the principles, values, and practices of sustainable development into all aspects of education and learning, in order to address the social, economic, cultural and environmental problems we face in the 21st Century.

With regards to Brunei Darussalam, the Ministry of Education, which is the country's National Commission for UNESCO, serves as the lead agency that is responsible to report and update the status of the "Decade of Education for Sustainable Development" (DESD) in the Sultanate to the organisation.

Although the ESD is a new concept, it is interesting to note that matters of the DESD had already been integrated into Brunei's school curriculum before the UN announced the 2005-2014 Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.

A number of initiatives and activities related to the DESD have been organised by various agencies in the Sultanate.

The Science, Technology & Environment Partnership (STEP) Centre and the International Affairs & Public Relations Unit, Ministry of Education, jointly organised a briefing on ESD for heads of various educational institutions at the Civil Service Institute in Rimba yesterday.

According to Hjh Norjum Hj Yusop, the Acting Permanent Secretary (Core Education) at the Ministry of Education, the ESD involves a lot of stakeholders, including the -media who are the communication agents.

The ESD concept is also practised in other developed and developing countries regardless of race, said Hjh Norjum, who officiated the launching of yesterday's event.

The Ministry of Education through its Brunei Darussalam National Commission for UNESCO is responsible for implementing, analysing and monitoring best practices in ESD. This holistic selfdevelopment is in line with the ministry's vision through its SPN 21 System, she said.

Hjh Norjum encouraged ESD committee members to channel the ESD concept to a wider scope by including other ministries, the private sector, NGOs and the community.

The Acting Head of STEP Centre and co-chairman of yesterday's event, Awg Hj Metali Hj Mirasan, said the briefing was in line with the Framework of an Action Plan by the ESD Taskforce Committee in raising awareness and understanding of the ESD concept among educators.

Four main topics were discussed in yesterday's briefing.

A senior education officer from STEP Centre, Awg Nor Erawadi Hj Ibrahim, delivered two presentations namely "General Introduction on ESD" (providing basic knowledge on ESD understanding from UNESCO point of view and why it is being brought forward) and "ESD Practice Relevant to MoE" (discussing on ESD consistency relevant to the Ministry of Education).

Another senior education officer from the centre, Dyg Sarimah Abu Bakar, provided a brief overview of the ESD Project's Action Plan that had been agreed and identified by the taskforce as main projects Health Promotion, Energy and Environment. Her presentation was entitled "ESD Programmes in Brunei Darussalam" (Proposed and On-Going: Health Promotion/Energy/Environment).

The fourth briefing on "ESD-Related & Good Practice/Projects in Brunei", meanwhile, highlighted several examples of projects and initiatives that are currently being carried out by several schools including Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD).

This briefing was delivered by Dr Irene Poh Ai Cheong, a Senior Lecturer at Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education, UBD, Cikgu Lina Hasrina Mohd Tahir of SMPAP Secondary School, Cikgu Hjh Rodziah Hj Wahab of Paduka Seri Begawan Science College and other representatives from Panchong Primary School. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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