Education for Sustainable Development in Japan
Problem: Option1 (not enough sustainability teaching system in Japanese school)
- What is the goal? Aim:
Describe ESD in Japan with positive and negative points. By doing so, enhance the awareness of ESD and then improve the ESD. Finally, enhance the actor to promote sustainability, in Japan and UK.
- Target
Student and teachers in Leeds/ people who make curriculum in the UK and Japan/ Japanese students
- Why Sustainable Education is important? /concept, definition of EDS /education ×sustainability
- History of ESD (how it is started, who starts? Global perspective)
- The influences of establishment of Sustainable Development Goals in Japanese National curriculum
In 2016, Ministry of education, culture, sports, science and technology- Japan states that ESD is a base for curriculum guideline in Japan.[1]
- Narrow down into Japan
- General Education system in Japan
First, I am going to introduce the general information about education system in Japan. In Japan, 6 to 12 age children go to primary school, children whose ages are 12-15 go secondly school. These are mandatory schools, which means every child has to go. After that, children 15-18 learn at high school and then many of them attend University for 4 years as undergraduate. Next, I will explain the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in each school in Japan by mentioning national curriculum especially about the subjects and hidden curriculum.
【 Primary School (6-12 year old child) 】
If I pick up subject that student learn directly or indirectly relates to sustainable development, I would say science, integrated studies, special Activities, Living Environment Studies.
In Living Environment Studies, students at 6 and 7 learn about nature, animal and the eco-system by going into nature. They enjoy the nature and then this enhances the respect for nature, which would be the fundamental aspect for sustainable development,
In integrated studies, they will go to local community, such as clean center and then see the reality and importance of reduction of trash, reuse and recycling. In some school, they make green wall.
For the hidden curriculum, we have cleaning time and lunch time.
[1] MEXT : ESD (Education for Sustainable Development)
For lunch, students dish out their meal by themselves. Teachers often say that “do not left the food, eat all of them.” Because of this experience, they lean to avoid food waste.
In the cleaning up time, students clean up their class room.
【Junior high school】
Hidden curriculum would be the same as primaly school.
【High school】
In high school, students are more actively learn about the Sustainable Development.
【University】
In Japan, the initiatives of ESD are quite different depends on the Universities. Therefore, I will introduce a good example of ESD in Sophia University which is my home University and puts emphasis on ESD.
・Students Staff
Sophia University hires Students Staff, which is a paid work for student and “leverage their student perspectives, ingenuity and creativity to carry out activities under three themes: Improving the campus environment, planning and organizing events, and disseminating information.”[1]( Sophia University, p.42) This is a good opportunity for students to take their action. For instances, they made rooftop garden, water servers, and universal design map.
・Student Organization
There are a lot of student organization which enhances SDGs. University sometimes supports them financially.
・Industry-Government- academia collaboration
- How to improve ESD Education in Japan
ESD is quite different depends on schools and teachers. Therefore, high quality of ESD should be prevailed widely regardeless of schools or teachers in Japan.