New signs for the Education for Sustainable Development initiative

Thinking and acting sustainably: Many schools are organising lessons with this aim in mind as part of the "Education for Sustainable Development" initiative, or ESD for short. School classes that integrate ESD into their lessons receive a wooden sign from the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg and can display it in their classroom. Once again this year, the Vocational Training Centre for Crafts - the educational institution of the District Crafts Association - is supporting the district by having the trainees produce wooden signs during practical work in the wood workshop. Managing Director Kai Bremmer presented the signs to District Administrator Jürgen van der Horst and the Deputy Head of Schools and Education, Bettina Wilhelmi, at the district crafts association's site in Korbach in autumn.

Kai Bremmer hands over 50 signs, sawn out of wooden panels and painted by hand, to the district: "We incorporated the production of the signs into the training programme. The individual panels were cut out with the CNC machine and then painted. That was also great for our apprentices." The signs stand for participation in the ESD diploma, which is offered by the Schools and Education Service to classes at primary and special schools as well as years five and six at secondary schools to implement sustainable education in the classroom. Classes receive the sign after participating in the introductory module. In addition, all pupils receive a certificate after successful participation. The prerequisite for this is that they deal with sustainable topics and contexts in their immediate environment. "The initiative promotes pupils' understanding of complex relationships between the environment, economy, society, politics and culture from an early age. By telling their parents and grandparents about their lessons at home and adapting their behaviour, they also serve as important multipliers," explains District Administrator Jürgen van der Horst.

However, education for sustainable development does not only focus on ecological aspects such as climate change: migration and integration, racism and children's rights are also part of the curriculum. "These topics lay the first foundations for political participation and promote tolerant and social coexistence," adds the district administrator. Around 70 school classes have now taken part in the ESD diploma and displayed the wood certificate produced by the district craftsmen's association in their classroom. A further 30 school classes have registered for the programme for the 2023/24 school year. Further information on ESD can be found on the district's website at www.landkreis-waldeck-frankenberg.de.

Caption: Managing Director Kai Bremmer and apprentice Sandy Schreiner from the painting workshop present the wood certificates for school classes with an ESD diploma to District Administrator Jürgen van der Horst and Bettina Wilhelmi, Deputy Head of Schools and Education.

Keywords:

Education for Sustainable Development Specialist Service Schools and Education