AQW 11037/22-27

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 30/04/2024
Answered On Date: 02/05/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education whether he has plans to introduce or increase climate change and sustainability education in the curriculum for primary schools and post-primary schools.

Answer:

In the Northern Ireland Curriculum, climate change and sustainable development are topics covered within the curriculum at every level.

At primary it is covered within the ‘World Around Us’ area of learning and at key stage 3, core learning in every subject must be taught in a range of contexts including education for sustainable development.

The curriculum at key stage 4 encourages teachers to promote relevance of learning to life and work (including sustainability).

Teachers can also contribute to education for sustainable development by providing frequent opportunities, within and beyond the classroom, to help young people develop dispositions and values such as curiosity, concern, respect, tolerance and personal responsibility in relation to a range of environmental and global issues.

The Department of Education have also commissioned CCEA to greater embed sustainability and climate change education into the curriculum. This will involve the development of a progression framework and resource hub to draw together up-to-date resources and sources of support for teachers, pupils and young people in green growth and climate change knowledge, skills and understanding.