Education for
Sustainable Development
Manitoba Education and Advanced Learning “is considered to be a world
leader in championing ESD, and is committed to the ‘whole school’
approach, in which not only does the curriculum address sustainable
development, but the school itself serves as a model learning environment,
demonstrating how sustainable development can be addressed in school
policies, operations and management” (Taylor and Creech, IISD 1).
What Is Education for Sustainable
Development?
The education of today is crucial to enhancing the ability of present and
future leaders and citizens to create solutions and find new paths to a
better, more sustainable world. Education for sustainable development
(ESD) “empowers learners to take informed decisions and responsible
actions for environmental integrity, economic viability and a just society,
for present and future generations, while respecting cultural diversity”
(UNESCO 12).
Goal
Education for sustainable development will become
part of the culture of every school in Manitoba.
Priorities
The priorities of ESD in Manitoba are to
■■ encourage an ESD school plan in every
school by the end of 2015
■■ incorporate ESD into teacher education
■■ reorient technical-vocational education
to support moving to a low-carbon
green economy
Actions
More than 181,000 students in Manitoba are learning to live sustainably.
In 2014, 231 schools indicated having an ESD school plan in place.*
Since 2015,
■■ 2 schools have received the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification
■■ 1 school has received the LEED Silver certification
■■ 19 schools/additions have been or are currently being built according to LEED standards
* Based on fall 2014 data (231 out of 751 schools, or 31 percent). Manitoba is currently collecting data through a survey instrument on the number of
schools with ESD school plans. A final number will be available at the end of 2015.
Supporting Educators
Manitoba Education and Advanced Learning is supporting educators by working with schools, school divisions,
faculties of education, and other partners to integrate ESD into curricula and into the policies, operations, and
management of schools.
Professional Learning for Educators
Manitoba Education and Advanced Learning, in partnership with non-governmental organizations, is offering
ESD pre-service and in-service training sessions in schools and in faculties of education throughout the province,
providing educators with information, resources, learning activities, and initiatives they can adapt and use in
the classroom.
Curricula
■■ ESD is integrated throughout the Kindergarten to Grade 12 curriculum, starting from broad cross-curricular
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learning outcomes and translated into subject-specific learning outcomes. Newly developed curricula,
such as technical-vocational education, are being analyzed to determine where sustainability concepts can
be incorporated.
ESD Correlation Charts of Student Learning Outcomes, organized by grade (K–12) and by discipline, indicate
where ESD learning outcomes are found in Manitoba curricula (see <www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/esd/correlations/
charts/index.html>).
Grade 12 Global Issues: Citizenship and Sustainability (Draft) was implemented system-wide in the 2013/2014
school year. In this optional social studies course, students conduct inquiries into the social, political,
environmental, and economic impact of contemporary and emerging global issues and engage in a practical,
community-based Take Action project (see <www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/cur/socstud/global_issues/index.html>).
Manitoba Education and Advanced Learning and the government of Nunavut are collaborating in the
development of a new Grade 12 Sustainable Tourism course.
Resources
Manitoba provides educators with extensive information and resources related to ESD:
■■ Eco-Globe Schools (Manitoba Education and Advanced Learning) is an annual recognition program
acknowledging Manitoba schools involved in activities that promote and integrate ESD.
■■ Guide for Sustainable Schools in Manitoba (International Institute for Sustainable Development and Manitoba
Education and Advanced Learning) provides information on ESD school planning and an extensive list
of resources.
■■ Making a Living, Sustainably: Green Jobs and Sustainability Careers (Manitoba Education) was produced to help
youth in Manitoba explore sustainability career options and practices and prepare to live and work for a more
sustainable future.
■■ Refuse, Refuse (ri-fyooz, ref-yoos): A Guide to Waste Reduction in Manitoba Schools (Manitoba Education and
Advanced Learning) fosters discussions about what can be done in school divisions to reduce waste.
■■ Tomorrow Now: Manitoba’s Green Plan (Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship) provides guidance for the
provincial government on sustainable development policy up until 2020 (see <www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/
tomorrownowgreenplan/>).
■■ Through the ESD Action Plan Grant, offered by Manitoba Education and Advanced Learning in partnership with
Manitoba Hydro, successful schools are awarded with up to $2000 for ESD action projects.
■■ An ESD Categorical Grant, with a funding formula of $700 per school, is provided to encourage division-wide
and/or school-based activity that promotes sustainable development.
To access ESD resources, see <www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/esd/>.
Fostering Partnerships
Manitoba Education and Advanced Learning advances ESD through a multistakeholder process involving partners from non-governmental organizations,
educational stakeholders, government departments, and the private sector.
Manitoba Education and Advanced Learning
■■ established an ESD Leadership Council, consisting of senior-level
representatives from various educational sector groups, faculties
of education, and government departments, to assist with the
development and implementation of a new three-year action plan
on ESD (2013–2016) (see Education for Sustainable Development
Leadership Council: Creating a Sustainable Future Together at
<www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/esd/pdfs/leadership_council.pdf>)
■■ chairs the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s
ESD Steering Committee, consisting of 56 member countries,
on behalf of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC)
(see <www.unece.org/env/esd>)
■■ is a member of the UNESCO Global Action Programme (GAP) on
Education for Sustainable Development Partner Networks—
Partner Networks are a global community of practice set up for GAP
implementation (see <www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco-worldconference-on-esd-2014/esd-after-2014/global-action-programme/>)
■■ chairs the CMEC Education for Sustainable Development Working
Group to support and encourage ESD initiatives and collaboration
(see <www.cmec.ca/147/Programs-and-Initiatives/Education-forSustainable-Development/Overview/index.html>)
■■ chairs the Manitoba Education for Sustainable Development
Working Group, an active hub for interested parties to work together
collaboratively to create a culture of sustainability in Manitoba
(see <www.mesdwg.com/>)
■■ partners with FortWhyte Alive to increase student and
educator awareness, understanding, and actions related to
living sustainably in an urban setting and to learning outdoors
(see <https://www.fortwhyte.org/foreducators/>)
References
Taylor, Susan K., and Heather Creech. Technical-Vocational Education for Sustainable Development
in Manitoba. Winnipeg, MB: International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2012.
<www.iisd.org/pdf/2012/technical_vocational_education_sd_mb.pdf>.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. UNESCO Roadmap for Implementing
the Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development. Paris, France: UNESCO, 2014.
<http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0023/002305/230514e.pdf>.
This brochure will be available in French and online at <www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/istp/index.html>.
© 2015