Learning for Sustainability has been a key focus for Dumfries and Galloway for a number of years. However, with the declaration of a Climate Emergency by the Dumfries and Galloway Council, our work became more urgent and our focus renewed. This declaration represented a radical and comprehensive step change in Dumfries and Galloway Council’s approach to climate change, and we have already made significant strides towards achievement of a regional net zero carbon status by 2025.
"Our Strategy makes important connections between ideas and challenges us to thinking critically about our role as educators in building a socially just, sustainable, and equitable society."
Two key areas within my role as Quality Improvement Officer for LfS, STEM (and many other hats!), is to promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. While COP26 in Glasgow encouraged much broader and deeper engagement with issues of sustainability and social justice.
‘Putting Learners at the Centre’
The Scottish Government has also renewed their focus on Learning for Sustainability, with a review of the national LfS Action plan to be published in Autumn 2022 aligned with the recommendations from the March 2022 ‘Putting Learners at the Centre: Towards a Future Vision for Scottish Education’ report from Ken Muir. The report identifies a number of key principles on which changes to Scottish education should be based given the views gathered from learners and educators. The principles clearly signal the need for significant cultural and mind-set change at all levels.
"The strategic approach at D&G places particular emphasis on the principles from Professor Muir which relate to Article 29 of the UNCRC, climate change, the value of early years and the need for equal status to be given to the voices of those most often unheard."
Taking this renewed national focus, we have recently published our Dumfries & Galloway Learning for Sustainability Strategy. It is an important document, one which has been developed in partnerships with others across the directorate, across the wider council and with our local and national partners including WOSDEC. The strategy was very well received and approved by elected members at our recent Education & Learning committee.
Young Voices
Our Strategy makes important connections between ideas and challenges us to thinking critically about our role as educators in building a socially just, sustainable, and equitable society. The document sets out our strategic approach to meeting the entitlements for learners. It details the responsibilities of staff within whole school approaches as learners learn about the world, for life and work in a global society and through global contexts.
In terms of Global Citizenship, our Education & Learning Directorate’s vision for Learning for Sustainability builds on the national vision statement from the 2030+ Report and Action Plan to include the development of youth voice, participation and leadership of children and young people so they feel confident in taking action. Our strategic approach at D&G places particular emphasis on the principles from Professor Muir which relate to Article 29 of the UNCRC, climate change, the value of early years and the need for equal status to be given to the voices of those most often unheard, for example, those from different denominations, minority ethnic and Gaelic communities.
Partnership Working
Delivering our vision for Learning for Sustainability in Dumfries & Galloway is everyone’s responsibility, and the aspirations of both the national and local strategies will only be achieved if everyone works together, building on the good practice, relationship and partnership working already taking place within our settings, schools and local communities.
"Delivering our vision for Learning for Sustainability in Dumfries & Galloway is everyone’s responsibility, and the aspirations of both the national and local strategies will only be achieved if everyone works together."
To support this work our Dumfries & Galloway Learning for Sustainability Partnership Group continues to meet termly. This group contains a wide range of partners who all have an interest and enthusiasm for Learning for Sustainability activity across Dumfries & Galloway. Particularly important is the relationship with WOSDEC who offer invaluable support to strategic leads and practitioners through CLPL sessions, professional dialogue and access to a wide range of resources, programmes and courses.
WOSDEC have also contributed to our second annual Learning for Sustainability Conference. The conference provides asynchronistic learning and will be available to all practitioners for all of session 2022/23. The conference consists of a number of keynote addresses, including the past, present and future of Global Citizenship, from Diana at WOSDEC. We are incredibly grateful to all our partners who have contributed resources and learning opportunities to our conference.
