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to transform the past development model. In view of the
DESD, moreover, the green growth approach still falls
short of proving itself a catalyst capable of addressing
the new role of education for sustainable development
in response to global uncertainties and ensuing national
risks in the immediate decades to come.
Second, a profound reorientation of existing educa-
tion structures and programmes needs to be addressed
for change in formal education in Korea. The current
national curriculum is organized around too many
academic subjects and is excessively centred on compe-
tition for college entrance. In hopes of prioritizing and
promoting quality education at all levels, partners and
stakeholders from diverse thematic areas need to work
together to promote education for sustainability. In
particular, with environmental issues still dominating
ESD thinking and activities, the mobilization of high-
level political will and inter-ministerial commitment is
a demanding part of the efforts toward moving forward.
Third, a rapidly evolving communication network
with educational potential has not fully mobilized. Like
other countries in Asia, Korean society is being reshaped
by the explosion of digital networks, such as blogging,
e-mailing, text messaging and social networking. A to-do
list of DESD action at national level has long included the
construction of a website offering guiding documents,
materials, research and activities at home and abroad.
ESD researchers, experts, teachers and activists still do
not have an online forumwhere they can exchange infor-
mation and ideas on ESD practices. In this context, the
second half of the DESD needs to tap into the potential
of the digital fabric to harness demand-supply chains of
ESD in non-formal and informal mutual learning. With
unprecedented opportunities for local people to join
in becoming increasingly interconnected and wired to
During the first half of the decade, the Korean National Commission
for UNESCO has played a facilitating role for national implementation
of education for sustainable develpoment (ESD) by organizing teacher
training workshops and guiding publications. The Asia-Pacific Centre
of Education for International Understanding (ACEIU), a UNESCO
Category II Centre in Korea, has organized a series of EIU/ESD events,
including in-service teacher training workshops, a photo exhibition and
essay contests. In collaboration with UNESCO Bangkok and United
Nations University respectively, it published
Two Concepts, One Goal:
EIU and ESD (
2006
)
and
A Training Manual for EIU and ESD (
2008
)
.
Looking forward to the second half of the decade, the Korean
National Committee on ESD was launched in 2009 as a DESD national
coordinating body. The Committee, composed of 20 members,
brings together government bodies, educational institutes, university
networks and representatives of different sectors of society. It aims to
devise ESD policies at the national level by spotting and acting on ESD
imperatives, as well as formulating a national ESD strategy.
There has been no statement from government ministries regard-
ing their involvement in the DESD process. However, the Ministry of
Environment introduced the Environment Education Promotion Act
in support of sustainable development in 2008, and published an ESD
resource book for teachers in primary education in 2009. The Ministry
of Education, Science and Technology has paid attention to the
strengthening of ESD by financing the operation of the ESD Committee
and incorporating ‘Environment and Green Growth’ into the revision of
the national curriculum for secondary education in 2010.
Despite the developments mentioned above, key constrain-
ing factors have also been identified and will need to be addressed
during the second half of the DESD. First, the green growth strategy
has brought about a new impetus for raising public awareness and
promoting sustainability issues nationwide. However, it also came
coupled with serious debate and skepticism. Some critics argue the
government-driven initiative aims to achieve another economic break-
through by advancing green technologies and greening its industry,
claiming the tech-savvy framework is not inclusive or holistic enough
The Korean National Committee on ESD holds regular meetings to devise, review and coordinate ESD policies
Image: KNCU