HC Deb 17 December 2003 vol 415 c957W
Dr. Pugh

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he has taken to encourage awareness of environmental issues in schools. [144212]

Mr. Charles Clarke

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), which includes environmental awareness, is a statutory part of the programmes of study for Science, Geography, Design and Technology and Citizenship within the National Curriculum. The Department and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) also encourage schools to consider sustainable development issues within the teaching of all subjects. Since 2001, the Department has funded QCA to provide on-line guidance for teachers.

In September, the Secretary of State issued the "Sustainable Development Action Plan for Education and Skills", which is organised around four key objectives:

  1. 1. education for sustainable development;
  2. 2. the environmental impact of the Department and its partner bodies;
  3. 3. the environmental impact of the education estate; and
  4. 4. local and global partnership activity.