This opportunity may be of interest to list members. Please note that
'evidence' from the last UK government inquiry is on the internet at
http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/environmental_audit_committee/eacsub_committee1.cfm
and submissions have included research articles and reports. Perhaps
there is also something to discuss here too ...
Alan Reid
****
Environmental Audit Committee
House of Commons
Press Release - for immediate use 2 November 2004
NEW INQUIRY
Environmental Education: a Follow-up to Learning the Sustainability Lesson
The Environmental Audit Committee is launching today an inquiry which
revisits the subject of education for sustainable development (ESD). On
31 July, 2003 the Environmental Audit Committee published its report,
"Learning the Sustainability Lesson". The report examined how far the
Government had sought to harness the power of learning (both informal
and formal) in promoting a better understanding of its sustainable
development goals. During the course of the inquiry the Committee
particularly considered how far the Department for Education and Skills
(DfES) was promoting an educational system which fosters education for
sustainable development.
The Committee believes that this is a particularly pertinent time to
return to the subject of ESD, not least because there is some concern
that the term itself has become compromised and its substance diluted.
It has also been over 12 months since the DfES published its Sustainable
Development Action Plan and work is currently underway to review the
current UK Sustainable Development Strategy. This month has also seen
the publication of the 14-19 Working Group's report, "14-19 Curriculum
and Qualifications Reform", which will help to inform a DfES White Paper
expected early next year.
The Environmental Audit Committee will be appointing a sub-committee,
under the Chairmanship of Joan Walley MP, which will examine what
progress has been made towards developing an effective sustainable
development strategy in education which uses both formal and informal
learning avenues to aid its delivery; the impact of the DfES Sustainable
Development Action Plan; and the way forward to the White Paper and
beyond in terms of incorporating environmental and sustainable
development objectives within general educational goals.
We are particularly seeking views on the following questions:
1. Has the term Education for Sustainable Development lost its
currency? Does it have any resonance with the general public? Has
the environmental message within it been lost?
2. The DfES said in 2003 that the Sustainable Development Action
Plan was supposed to signal the start of a process of change,
identifying the most powerful levers - what can be achieved
immediately and what can be built upon. More than a year on can it
be said that that process of change has begun and have there been
any immediate achievements?
2. Government is currently reviewing the UK Sustainable
Development Strategy. What should the Strategy include in order to
significantly strengthen the role of learning within it?
3. Does the 14-19 Working Group's report, "14-19 Curriculum and
Qualifications Reform", go far enough? Will ESD be adequately
represented if this report is used as the basis for the
forthcoming White Paper? What must be included in the White Paper
if progress is to be made to fully integrate ESD into all aspects
of learning, formal and informal?
4. In response to our last inquiry the DfES said they recognised
that more could be done to embed ESD in the school curriculum and
that they would lead on strengthening ESD links within geography,
design and technology, science and citizenship. Has there been any
discernible improvement in these areas? Is there evidence that
this work has been taken forward by the DfES and its agencies?
5. The role of informal learning, including youth work, work-based
learning and adult and community learning, in taking the
environmental education agenda forward is key. Is the Government
doing enough in these crucial areas?
6. Is there any evidence to suggest that the Government, through
its stewardship of education, is getting better at getting the
environmental message across to the general public? And is there
any evidence to suggest that sufficient work is being done at
regional and local levels to support environmental education?
7. Are there sufficient resources available to deliver the
government's commitment to education for sustainable development?
The Committee would be grateful to receive memoranda from interested
individuals and organisations relating to these issues. Written evidence
should be sent to the Clerk to the Sub-committee, Miss Lynne Spiers, by
Friday 26 November 2004 either by post or emailed to
[log in to unmask] For printing purposes we would be grateful if
electronic copies could be provided where possible. A brief guidance
note on the preparation and submission of evidence is available on the
Committees web pages.
Contact details:
Press enquiries:
Jessica Bridges Palmer 0207 219 0718 (office)/ 07841 737 349(mob)
Other enquiries:
Lynne Spiers 0207 219 0715
Notes for Editors
1. The EAC's sub-committee will be known as the Sub-Committee on
Environmental Education: A follow-up to Learning the Sustainability
Lesson. Its membership will be determined before the end of the current
Session of Parliament
Joan Walley MP will be the Chairman
2. Details of all the Committees inquiries, together with its Reports
and other publications, are available on the internet at
http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/environmental_audit_committee.cfm
The Environmental Audit Committee
Under the terms of the Standing Order No. 152A the Environmental Audit
Committee is to Aconsider to what extent the policies and programmes of
government departments and non-departmental public bodies contribute to
environmental protection and sustainable development: to audit their
performance against such targets as may be set for them by her Majesty's
Ministers; and to report thereon to the House. The Committee was set up
on 16 July 2001.
Membership:
Chairman: Mr Peter Ainsworth MP
Mr Gregory Barker MP Sue Doughty, MP Mr John McWilliam, MP
Mr Harold Best, MP Mr Elliot Morley , MP* Mr Malcolm Savidge, MP
Mr Colin Challen, MP Mr Mark Francois, MP Mr Simon Thomas, MP
Mr David Chaytor, MP Mr Paul Flynn, MP Joan Walley, MP
Mrs Helen Clark, MP Mr John Horam, MP David Wright, MP
* The Minister for the Environment has ex-officio membership of the
Committee in like manner to the Financial Secretary's membership of the
Committee of Public Accounts.
Caroline McElwee
Secretary to the Clerk
Environmental Audit Committee
020 7219 6150
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