Context:
Mongolia is one of the fastest growing countries in the world due to the mining boom. In addition to the financial blessing of raw materials, their extraction also has a negative impact on the environment. In its sustainable development strategy, the Mongolian government has decided to change from a pure raw materials economy to a green and fair economy. In order to take this step successfully, the population needs to be involved. Good education, which is designed to encourage young people to deal with ecological, social, economic and cultural problems, is an essential factor for a sustainable future.
The Mongolian government has initiated a comprehensive reform process that integrates education for sustainable development into general (school) education. Today's school education is based on a twelve-year school system. However, many curricula and standards are outdated, teacher qualifications are often inadequate, some infrastructure is lacking, and the mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the quality of school education need to be improved.
Swiss development cooperation has already been committed to environmental education for the past five years and is building on this experience.
Objective:
Education for sustainable development is established in the Mongolian school system. The framework conditions for sustainable and green development are improved.
Approach:
By adapting the educational system, teachers and students should be encouraged to learn for their future and to immerse themselves in a 'culture of complexity': through critical thinking they should question their existing values and reflect on their own learning.
In order for this process to succeed, the project team involves community residents, local organisations, businesses and local governments in its work.
In order to make the teachers fit for their new tasks and to increase their professional and didactic qualifications, they take part in training and further education. Together with the government, the project team develops new guidelines and supports their implementation. Information events and campaigns are aimed at the general public to raise awareness of the importance and opportunities of a green economy in the country. The project will be implemented jointly by GIZ International Services, the Swedish Uppsala University and the Institute for International Cooperation in Education in Zug, Switzerland.
Results:
With the technical support of the project team, guidelines for the integration of the principles and ideas of education for sustainable development were developed. These guidelines have since been adopted by the government within the school system. A core curriculum for secondary education based on the principles of Education for Sustainable Development has been developed and is currently being introduced. On the basis of the new curriculum, numerous textbooks of the secondary school were revised and renewed. Over 28,000 teachers across the country have attended training sessions on the principles of Education for Sustainable Development and the new curriculum.
In cooperation with the Mongolian Ministry of Environment, Green Development and Tourism, an action plan for the Green Development Policy of Mongolia has been developed. The action plan was adopted by the Mongolian government in January 2016.
Training modules and handouts tailored to Mongolia's needs are available on the topics of 'Education for Sustainable Development', 'Sustainable Development' and 'Green Development'.
These use national trainers from different fields and for different target groups of society for further education and training.
The project team trains trainers, who in turn train other people on the topics 'Education for Sustainable Development', 'Sustainable Development' and 'Green Development'. They organise events in communities or schools, where they pass on their know-how to the population and thus disseminate it.
Studies focusing on 'Education for Sustainable Development', 'Sustainable Development' and 'Green Development' were carried out and used by decision-makers.
Responsible persons from ministries, educational organisations and representatives of various government organisations take part in organisational and management training courses. This enables them to carry out their work processes and tasks more efficiently.