PENANG, 10 January 2018 – The sustainability awareness among teachers in schools are growing and increasing including teachers in Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam.

According to a lecturer at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) School of Humanities, Dr. Asyirah Abdul Rahim, a survey has been done on teachers in three countries and the findings show that the awareness on sustainability is increasing through the use of the module which is called Curricular on Education for Sustainable Science for Secondary School Teachers.

“Most teachers in those countries weren’t aware that the activities they did were related to activities on sustainability, but after the module has been introduced, then only they knew that the activities were on sustainability and could be included as practices for sustainability,” she added during her presentation at the Seminar on Relocating Higher Education for Sustainable Development Goals; From Campus to Community.

“The teachers have carried out activities relating to Education for Sustainability (ESD) and they have also conducted ESD practices among the students and the community."

Asyirah is a fellow working at the United Nations recognised Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) that works in partnership with key stakeholders to bring about change through education on sustainable practices at the community level.

The United Nations have introduced 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 to serve as guidelines to ensure a more sustainable future globally.

Text: Nor Rafizah Md. Zain