Why Sustainable Development Goals

Education is no longer about learning within the four walls of a building. Rather, it’s a learning outside the classrooms–for life from life, with life. The technological advances in the last two years along with acceleration in learning catalysed by the pandemic have highlighted the importance of community building for a sustainable future with people-planet-profit as a primary goal.

At Genesis Global School, we understand this space. Therefore we prepare our students—the future change makers—as pioneers of change by encouraging environmentally sustainable practices that not only align to the SDG goals defined by the United Nations but to create daily practices that lead to long-term gain for our planet. In my opinion, like sports, it’s crucial to make sustainability a subject that is a critical part of curriculums in schools across the country.

What are Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

According to the United Nations, human dignity comes from caring for the world and conserving it. It portrays a world where we are able to live our best lives and enjoy peaceful solitude, a world where our actions determine our future. Keeping this in mind, the United Nations in 2015 adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs- three of them being life below water, life on land, and climate action. Other prominent goals include zero hunger, good health & wellbeing, gender equality, affordable and clean energy, reduced inequality, decent work & economic growth, and more. In order to address these universal global challenges and make our planet safer, cleaner, and sustainable by 2030, active participation from all sections of society is required.

Impact: Why introduce students to SDGS?

Like the world around us, the industry and career space have undergone a sea change. Education is no longer about theoretical rote practices or certain predictable careers choices. Today, we are witnessing the sharp rise of careers like-fashion data scientist, product designer, digital marketer, social media expert, and content strategist—that did not exist two decades ago. In this backdrop, education is about comprehensive learning that prepares the learner or the student to not only be a skilled professional in his chosen career but to be an empathetic human being who is mindful of the people around him and the planet itself. The industry is undoubtedly still inclined to choose prospective employees based on professional skills, but they are also giving equal emphasis to candidates who display life skills like analytical & reasoning skills, leadership, empathy, communication, teamwork, adaptability, agility, and risk management among others.

SDGs are aligned to these skills and our collective future which depends on encouraging green habits for a safer planet that we can hand over to our future generations. After all, the students of today will be the leaders of tomorrow and they will be driving the fate and future of economies, nations, and our planet.

Students must be active participants in SDG as they are tomorrow’s global leaders, and they must learn how to lead and thrive in a global environment. SDGs cover a wide range of topics that are all relevant and overarching. It is important for the children to develop empathy and compassion toward these topics as early as possible, so they can bring about positive changes, no matter how big or small. Our education system must also incorporate this approach for our children to become aware and fully know the sustainable development goal benefits.

Sustainable Development Goal benefits are enormous as it not only helps in developing the skills of problem-solving but also enhance the spirit of teamwork and communication among young minds. It also promotes a more equitable and sustainable human life among others through education.

Teaching children about sustainability empowers them to explore values and develop respect for nature, which lays the foundation for environmentally responsible adulthood in the next future. Fostering environmental consciousness and connecting and developing respect for nature are some of the reasons to teach SDG to students.