Environmental Education (Hansard, 19 June 1996)

§ Mr. Gummer

I commissioned Jennifer Jones, a secondee to my Department, to carry out a review of education, training and awareness about the environment. She prepared a report which made a range of recommendations to the key players in environmental education. We have drawn up a strategy for environmental468W education on the basis of this report which takes account of the recommendations in it, and provides a framework within which to consider how they should be taken forward.

Government Strategy for Environmental Education in England IntroductionEducation is a central means of furthering the Government's commitment to sustainable development. Education can give people that capacity to address environmental issues which is vital to achieving a sustainable society. Education in its broadest sense includes not just formal study, but personal awareness, experience and interests developed over a period of time—at home, at school, college or university, at work, and in the wider community. This strategy therefore provides a general framework which encompasses the national curriculum, the 16 to 19 sector, further and higher education, training and informal education. It accommodates the scale and diversity of environmental education which is already taking place, and provides a focus for encouraging its further development.ObjectiveTo instil in people of all ages, through formal and informal education, and training, the concepts of sustainable development and responsible global citizenship; and to develop, renew and reinforce their capacity to address environment and development issues throughout their lives, both at home and at work.This will be achieved bycontinuing to promote and encourage environmental education and training through relevant programmes and policies and as part of the continuing dialogue with business and industry, local authorities, the education sector and non-governmental organisations.helping to ensure that appropriate materials for each phase of the education and training process are readily available;facilitating and supporting initiatives which promote sustainable development and responsible global citizenship to people in the course of their daily lives;continuing to ensure that the education process is alive to the needs of employers;establishing suitable arrangements to monitor and encourage progress in the application of sustainable development principles and the integration of environmental issues in education so that activities may be changed, redirected, or reinforced where necessary.Progress to date:Three exercises to facilitate environmental education through the national curriculum are nearing completion;references to the importance of sustainability and responsible global citizenship have been included in the Dearing review of qualifications for 16 to 19-year-olds;a report on the implementation of the recommendations of the 1993 Toyne report has been completed;work has commenced by the Department for Education and Employment, with cross departmental support. to oversee the preparation of occupational standards in environmental management;financial support for environmental education. This includes support for the Council for Environmental Education, the National Association for Environmental Education, Forum for the Future and environmental education projects, including some in schools, through the environmental action fund; the Centre for Research, Education and Training in Energy, the eco-schools programme and an energy efficiency award scheme for schools in partnership with British Gas;support for the going for green campaign and for local agenda 21.Future action:The Government will continue to encourage, promote, support and facilitate environmental education initiatives;469Wthe Government will establish suitable arrangements to monitor and encourage progress in the application of sustainable development principles and the integration of environmental issues in education. These arrangements will need to cover the nine Government Departments with an interest;the Government will also consider whether to convene an external panel, perhaps through going for green, including representatives from education and training, business and industry and environmental specialists. The panel's role would be to facilitate co-ordination of the activities of all the sectors involved, and to make recommendations to the key players;a seminar will be held for invited participants on the review of the 1993 Toyne report.

Copies of the report on environmental education, training and awareness have been placed in the Library of the House, and are available from my Department on request.

We shall consider how to respond to the detailed recommendations in the report in the context of implementing the strategy for environmental education.