Education for Sustainable Development: Encapsulating Government Efforts towards Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals in the Context of Junior Secondary Schools in Kenya

Abstract

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is the vehicle used by countries to empower learners to take informed decisions and responsible actions, for the realization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ESD does that through, environmental integrity, economic viability and a just society, for present and future generations, while respecting cultural diversity. This literature review research paper aimed at outlining the relationship between ESD and SDGs. It also endeavors to summarize the key practices of sustainable development (SD) which have been incorporated into the curriculum and pedagogy in Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) in Kenya in an attempt to show devotion towards achieving the SDGs. The paper is based on the Ministry of Education’s Guidelines for Implementation of JSS (2023), a policy administering JSS in Kenya. The paper is a literature review type from scholarly sources. The study findings established that ESD is vital in the JSS as it is the United Nations principal agency that oversees and supports countries to advance and enlarge educational activities that focus on sustainability.  ESD thus would enable learners’ to gain awareness of the 17 goals, enhancing their understanding of how these goals relate to self and society, and assist them to contribute to global SD as their responsibility and duty. The paper established that Kenyan government has implemented in the JSS curriculum the Community Service Learning (CSL) where learners are sensitized to acquire 21^st Century skills and competencies through Education/citizenship (Goal 4) and Partnerships (Goal 17). Further, Citizenship Education (CE) is incorporated in the curriculum to achieve inclusive education (Goal 4) through gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls (Goal 5). CE also advocates for reduction in inequalities based on income, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, class, ethnicity and religion (Goal 10), and peaceful inclusive societies, and justice for all (Goal 16). Equally, JSS curriculum has Environmental Education (EE) which is in line with Goal 4 (environmental curricula); Goal 6 (protection and restoring freshwater ecosystems); Goal 8 (depletion and environmental degradation);  Goal 10 (rights of environmental defenders), and Goal 11 (low-emission, resilient and resource-efficient in urban areas). Capacity building of educators is also enshrined in the JSS education in line with Goals 4 and 17 which advocate for support in building capacities in developing countries to assist the teacher gain innovative teaching approaches. This paper thus concludes that, the Kenya Government is committed to the realization of the SDGs through its ESD in JSS Curriculum.

Keywords: Education for Sustainable Development, Sustainable Development Goals, Implementation of Junior Secondary Education.

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/15-3-08

Publication date:March 31^st 2024