Map of the Week – Education and Sustainable Development: European Blue Schools Find the Blue!
Education was high on the agenda this week with people around the world celebrating International Day of Education . The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 24 January as International Day of Education, in celebration of the role of education for peace and development. This year, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) shed light on why learning for peace matters and highlighted the crucial role of education and teachers to combat hate speech. As UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay pointed out, “Because if hatred starts with words, peace starts with education. What we learn changes how we view the world and influences how we treat others. Education must therefore be at the heart of our efforts to achieve and maintain world peace." [1] UNESCO emphasises the transformative power of learning for peace, as outlined in the UNESCO Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights, and Sustainable Development . At the heart of this endeavor is the pursuit of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4): “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”. A key facet of quality education is the promotion of equality in educational opportunities. By nurturing an environment that values diversity and inclusion, education becomes a powerful tool in deconstructing hate speech and fostering a culture of peace.
To celebrate International Day of Education, the Map of the Week focuses on the Network of European Blue Schools which connects schools from many countries within the framework of the EU4Ocean Coalition, uniting students in a shared commitment towards Ocean Literacy. European Blue Schools bring the ocean into the classroom through project-based learning. To date, a total of 263 schools have been certified. See where these certified schools are located on the map! By engaging young minds with oceanic topics, the network not only enriches educational experiences but also instills a sense of global citizenship and contributes to education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles.
Wish to learn more? Looking for resources? Wish to get involved?
- Explore the UNESCO SDG4 Knowledge Hub .
- Discover the European Atlas of the Seas’ Teachers’ Corner and its education resources, including ready to use map-based exercises, quizzes and games. Have you tried the Atlas’ geocaching game?
- Participate in the Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) ‘Bring The Ocean into Your School ’, a transformative course organised in the framework of EU4Ocean, designed to empower educators with the knowledge and tools needed to inspire the next generation of ocean stewards. The course is now open for enrollment!
- Join the Network of European Blue Schools with your school and connect to a wider Ocean Literacy community. Apply online by 31 May 2024!
Through the transformative potential of education, we can shape a future where hate speech is replaced by dialogue, discrimination gives way to acceptance, every student, regardless of background, has equal access to opportunities and students work together on building a sustainable future!
The data in this map are provided by provided by the Network of European Blue Schools.