One day
conference on 'Education for Sustainable Development : Nepalese Perspectives'
Date: January 9, 2013
 T |
he Sustainable Education Group-Nepal (SEG-N) supported by
Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), Green Hub Private Limited, ICIMOD, Geneva Global
School, www.nepalitelecom.com and Centre for Climate Change-Nepal
organized a one day conference on ‘Education for Sustainable Development:
Nepalese Perspectives’, that was held on January 9 at the lecture hall of Nepal
Tourism Board.
A total of 30 participants including six organizer members
took part in the event. Many of the attendants were the students of M.Sc.
Environmental Sciences, teachers and other stakeholders. The conference was
held with an eye to providing a platform to the students, who live across the
country and aspire to contribute to sustainable development and stakeholders so
as to express their take on and experiences on the theme ‘Education for
Sustainable Development'.
The conference was
split into three sessions and was commenced by the organisation's treasurer,
Subhash Thapa Magar. Parbat Dhungana, a highly experienced lecturer at
Kathmandu University, was the keynote speaker at the conference. He lighted the
possible ways of going through the path of sustainable development; also
mentioned that education is that sort of light which he was delivering. Though
seven attendants were scheduled to deliver presentations on different issues,
only five of them could give on the grounds of the limited time. All the
presenters explained their views in layperson’s terms. Speaking at the
conference, the keynote speaker laid emphasis on the critical thinking,
participatory class and interconnectedness among knowledge, skill, attitude and
behavior. Moreover, he encapsulated the category of development in different
terms and contradictions regarding the definition of development. 
Secretary of SEG-N, Rajendra Kattel suggested that the school that
entails economy, environment and entrepreneurship can be greener if planned and
implemented well. Also, he emphasized the theme ‘One village-one school-one
production’. Another presenter, Rajib Khanal shared his views on modern
education. Likewise, Subash Duwadi gave a presentation on Climate Change
Adaptation Education. His presentation was regarded more noteworthy than the
rest as climate change has been triggering dire impacts on human lives and
biodiversity. Yet, a large number of people are not well aware of adapting to climate
change and its causes.
At length, the
president of SEG-N, Dipesh Dulal shared the conceptual ideas about edublogging
and its necessity in the present. Highlighting the contributions of supporting
partners, conclusions drawn after interactions, concerted efforts of presenters
and precious time of attendants, he made a strong commitment to organize this
sort of programs in the future if other institutions support and work together.
The conference was wrapped up by putting hands up altogether to agree on the
slogan ‘Let us carry on our ESD agenda even after 2014’ being aware that the UN
decade for ESD (DESD) was coming to end from 2005 to 2014.
Education is one of the
vitality, which plays significant roles in developing a country. Despite many
contradictory ideas about development, development is inevitable and indispensable
for humankind. Development should not be destructive but sustainable, practical
and productive. When development activities are carried out, other aspects
should not be affected. This is what participants learned.
Submitted by
Amar Sherma (Limbu), MA English, second year, RR Campus, an
English teacher at Chelsea Int’l Academy and the Vice-secretary of SEG-N