Zambia launches new curriculum empowering climate education with FAO and partner support
Lusaka, Zambia – Zambia has launched its much-awaited National Education Curriculum Framework, integrating climate change education principles at all levels.
The launch was made possible with the support of the Facility for Action for Climate Empowerment to achieve Nationally Determined Contributions (FACE-NDC) project – led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) with the financial support of the Government of Germany.
The FACE-NDC project is shaping formal and non-formal education to help countries engender climate-friendly behaviours and mainstream action to mitigate climate change, build resilience and achieve their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) through agrifood systems for better production, better nutrition, better environment and better lives.
The project is piloting in Zambia, which has set an ambitious NDC target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 47% by 2030, in particular in the agriculture, forestry and energy sectors.
Hailing the new curriculum as a “remarkable milestone”, Zambia’s Minister of Education expressed his appreciation for the contribution of the FACE-NDC consortium partners throughout the development process:
“Your support could not have come at a better time as the country accelerates its development agenda focused on sustainable development,” the Honourable Douglas Syakalima MP said.
Rigorous review
The FACE-NDC consortium partners, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the Copperbelt University (CBU), and the University of Zambia (UNZA) supported the Zambian Ministry of Education with the review and validation of the curriculum framework.
The new competence-based curriculum will focus on a learner-centered approach that empowers students to take charge of their own learning processes. Climate change education content will be mainstreamed across early childhood, primary and secondary school subjects in the Zambian education system.
Behavioural science principles will be embedded and reinforced in the curriculum to guide textbooks, lesson planning and implementation at the school level. Teacher training will be updated to ensure that these changes are implemented.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator Ms. Beatrice Mutali affirmed the UN support to the Zambian government for curriculum implementation:
“FACE-NDC will support Zambia's green transition including towards more resilient and sustainable agrifood systems by developing gender-responsive pedagogy, training materials and building the capacity of teachers using a blended approach,” she said.
Muchipa/FAOZambia/2024
The FACE-NDC project will also co-design educational resources and tools for clubs and civil society organisations, in a bid to reach the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in society especially agricultural communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis.
Once complete, the FACE-NDC project expects to reach more than one million students at schools, tertiary institutions and universities, as well as voluntary organizations such as scout and girl guide groups.
Following the pilot in Zambia, the successful tools and methodologies will be rolled out across the region and beyond, in countries including Brazil, Liberia, Malawi, the Philippines and Uganda.
The transformative project is funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).
Muchipa/FAOZambia/2024
Related links
Launching FACE-NDC, empowering countries