Pahang State in Malaysia is the world’s first state to outline its roadmap to support the UNESCO Greening Education Partnership.
KUANTAN, PAHANG, 13 JUNE 2023 – HRH, the Regent of Pahang, Tengku Mahkota Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Ibni Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, graciously launched the Pahang Eco-Schools Programme at Tunku Azizah Primary School in Kuantan.
As the Royal Patron of Eco-Schools Malaysia, HRH described, “The Eco-Schools Programme is the ideal platform to foster exemplary values, raise awareness and recognition of current environmental issues through project-based learning (PBL). The Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) concept, which I have mandated, is also being executed through the Eco-Schools programme: Environment (E) through climate mitigation and adaptation interventions and biodiversity conservation, Social (S) through community development and the personal and intellectual development of students, and Governance (G) through stakeholder engagement and accountability. ESG principles are being holistically applied in the seven-step methodology of Eco-Schools. Furthermore, the educational intervention for sustainable development highlights the role of youth as agents of change in building a zero-carbon society.”
In his speech, HRH the Regent of Pahang, as the Royal Patron of Eco-Schools Malaysia, introduced the Eco-Schools Pahang Programme to the attendees, mainly one hundred school principals from across the state of Pahang, as well as representatives from Pahang State departments. He emphasised that the Eco-Schools Programme is the world’s most extensive Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Programme, with a network covering ninety-five countries, involving over twenty million students and one million teachers. The Eco-Schools Programme is essential in achieving the goals of the UNESCO Greening Education Partnership (GEP) by 2030.
GEP is a United Nations initiative that provides comprehensive and resolute actions to empower every student with the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes to address climate change and promote sustainable development. Based on the holistic approach of ESD, the GEP has been designed to inspire countries to empower students with the necessary skills for climate action and inclusive and sustainable economic development to transition to a digital and green economy.
The highlight of the Eco-Schools Pahang Inauguration Ceremony was the Pahang GEP Roadmap 2030 presentation by the HRH Regent of Pahang. To integrate sustainability principles, environmental awareness, and individual climate action into the education system, this roadmap aims to empower the younger generation with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to address urgent environmental challenges.
It is highly notable to mention that Pahang is the first state in the world to formulate a Greening Education roadmap. In his address, the Regent of Pahang emphasised the need for initiatives that empower the youth, especially in Pahang, to lead the green transition among the communities in the state.
The Pahang Greening Education Partnership (GEP) Roadmap aims to strengthen the role of education in achieving sustainable development goals and integrating the climate agenda into the education system in Malaysia through the following pillars.
Greening Schools
At least 50% of educational institutions throughout Pahang are recognised as green schools or institutions through the Eco-Schools and Eco-Campus programs.
Greening Learning
100% of schools in the Eco-Schools program implement climate change education integration within the National Curriculum, and 100% of Higher Education Institutions in the Eco-Campus program offer recognised Sustainable Development Management courses.
Greening Capacity & Readiness
Every principal/headmaster and at least two teachers from each school in Pahang attend Climate Change Education courses.
Greening Communities
100% of schools in FELDA areas participating in the Eco-Schools program become education centres for sustainable community development.
Also, present to grace the launching ceremony was the sister of HRH the Regent, HRH Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Ilyana Binti Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, who is the Royal Patron of Eco-Schools Pahang.
In her welcoming remark at the launch event, HRH Tengku Puteri highlighted that the Eco-Schools Programme is a long-term solution which is youth-centred in realising the aspirations of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This launch event is the outcome of a collaboration between the Green Growth Asia Foundation as the organiser with support from the Pahang State Government, the Pahang State Education Department, and the Pahang Foundation.
The highest appreciation is accorded to the synergistic partners of Eco-Schools Pahang, namely the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC), WWF-Malaysia, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Malaysia, the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp), the Pahang State Irrigation and Drainage Department, the Pahang State Agriculture Department, the Pahang State Fisheries Department, and the Pahang State Veterinary Services Department, for their continuous support in the success of the project-based learning (PBL) elements of Eco-Schools Pahang.
Also acknowledged at the event were the Eco-Schools Pahang Programme sponsors for their readiness to support the involvement of several Eco-Schools across the state. Among those present were Public Bank Berhad and BASF Petronas Chemicals Sdn representatives. Bhd., FGV Holdings Berhad, Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd, DRB Hicom and Reneuco Berhad. More corporate bodies were called on to ensure the Eco-Schools Programme’s positive impacts can be enjoyed throughout the beloved state of Pahang.
The honourable guests at the event include the Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and Pahang Agriculture, Agro-based Industry, Biotechnology and Education committee chairman Datuk Seri Ir Mohd Soffi Abd Razak.
Upon his arrival, the Regent of Pahang visited the PPKI Aquaponics Project at SK Tunku Azizah, and the launching ceremony of Eco-Schools Pahang was concluded with a tree planting event where students from SK Tunku Azizah gifted a Podocapus tree to His Royal Highness. This event symbolises the hope, belief, and trust of the youths in Pahang towards the leadership of the state and the country to protect and prioritise sustainable development in Pahang and Malaysia.
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