Dr Renu Gupta
Introducing SDGs
Sustainable development is meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is also about ensuring a better quality of life for everyone now and for the generations to come. The United Nations Document “Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” – a set of 17 global goals known as the Sustainable Development Goals with 169 targets in them were framed and unanimously adopted by the 193 member states of the UN on 25 September 2015.
The SDGs provide a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. The SDG given to the world by the UN is based on what we need to survive in a better world. They address the global challenges we face including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice. The SDGs provide worldwide guidance for addressing the global challenges facing the international community. It is about better protecting the natural foundations of life and our planet everywhere and for everyone and preserving people’s opportunities to live in dignity and prosperity across generations. Infact SDGs are the tools that allow people to pay attention to the environment and learn to take part in making our planet sustainable.
Importantly, social, economic and political aspects have been given enough emphasis in the way the SDGs have been formulated. They apply to both developing and developed countries. Every country which joined Agenda 2030 has to make efforts towards realising these goals concerning their particular context.
Key highlights of the SDG Report 2022
Recently the global Sustainable Development Report 2022 was released wherein India was ranked 121 out of 163 countries. It was ranked 117 in 2020 and 120 in 2021.The 2022 SDG Index ( which measures the country’s total progress towards achieving 17 SDGs) is topped by Finland followed by Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Overall our country’s scores improved by 6 points from 60 in 2019 to 66 in 2020-21. Though India has slipped 3 spots on achieving the 17 SDGs this year but its progress towards achieving SDGs is both encouraging and challenging. India has to continue its efforts towards achieving these goals with the given resources, involving civil society, people and schools.
Various flagship schemes or programs have been launched by the Government of India to implement SDG include Swach Bharat Mission, Beti Bachao Beti Padao, Pradhanmantri Awas Yojna, Smart Cities, PM Jan Dhan Yojna, Ujwala Yojna, Metro Rail Projects, National Education Policy etc.
The development has to be initiated from the grassroots level and each member of the society from the top to the bottom has to contribute without thinking of their status.
In a significant achievement for the JAMMU & KASHMIR Government, Indian think tank, NITI AAYOG has praised the UT Adm for its vigilant participation and valuable feedback that has helped India’s progression in achieving the 2030 agenda of SDGs.
Issues Associated with progress
Education is a significant factor in the progress and status of any nation, which enriches peoples’ understanding of themselves and the world. It improves the quality of their lives and leads to broad social benefits for individuals and society. Education and lifelong learning are essential components of everyday life. It also has the power to change our mindsets. It empowers us with the ability to use our thoughts in the right direction bringing about innovation and discoveries to help in sustainable growth.
According to Kofi Annan, “Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rests the cornerstones of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development .”There cannot be a better way to use education as a tool to transform our surroundings, society, country and the entire world. Education and Sustainable Development are interrelated with each other as they both deals with well-managed livelihood, equity and equality in society. Education for Sustainable Development means including its key issues into teaching-learning like climate change, biodiversity, poverty reduction, disaster risk reduction and sustainable consumption. Undoubtedly education is one of the most important instruments with which to realise the SDGs.
Role of the Schools and Teachers
Teachers are the pillars of our society and who better to shoulder the responsibility than them? They are the ones who can influence and mould a child’s way of thinking. The onus is shifted to the schools to impart this concept of transforming the world. The concept of sustainable development can be well transmitted to future citizens by schools and teachers. Being a mentor, an educator, a motivator, a guide, a leader etc teacher has to shoulder duties and responsibilities. They teach empathy to students, give them an awareness of the wider world, its values and identities and show them how they can make a difference in the future. They guide people to follow rules and regulations of society and help them in the preparation of responsible citizens. Teachers should be role models for students so that the cultivation of values is enhanced. These values of cultivation, social awareness, economical attention and tendency to protect the environment are the basic components of sustainable development. If a teacher educator sows the seeds of Sustainable Development among the students then its roots will be deeply penetrated into society. This helps the development of students into better citizens of the world.
Solutions to the problems and way forward
Students are considered the future of the nation and humankind, and a teacher is believed to be a credible guide for their advancement. They are the effective agents of change today, thus the teachers have to engage them, mould them and empower them with the knowledge, skills and pathways. Education about sustainable development gives students real-world skills and we care attitude that they can use to improve the planet.
Although it is a big challenge for the teachers to make the children realise that they are the future and they are going to be a strong globally united entity, it is only they who can make them aware of the fact that the resources are depleting and help them in finding means and ways to replete our resources.
The 5 P’s of sustainable development namely ‘ People, Planet, Partnership, Peace and Philanthropy ‘ need to be propagated amongst the students. These 5 Ps will also help in revitalizing the Education system.
The opportunities to bring in change are immense and the only thing is the conviction, commitment and the realisation that the power to shape children lies with us only.
It is pertinent that teachers should be aware of the programs, policies, strategies, progress made, and various goals at the national and international levels, so that they realise, experience and understand the problems, global impact and their solutions. Accordingly, this should be part of the school curriculum, pedagogy, lesson plans and action plans.
All the Reports / Indices should also be discussed with the students, so that they also own the responsibility, become accountable and be a part of the change.
The UN has declared the decade of 2020-30 as the “decade for action”. We only have 8 years left, each of us has to act now.
Entering the decade of action, let’s come together and leave no one behind. A true whole-of-society effort towards realising the SDGs which includes YOU, your families, friends, schools, community, government, civil society, private sector and all citizens, is the need of the hour.
With this holistic approach, the day is not far when we will accomplish our mission under the able leadership of our Prime Minister who along with his team is tirelessly working for the New India.
Let’s take this pledge on the TEACHERS DAY and create a better world where Babe Dioum’s words can come true:
” In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand and we will understand only what we are TAUGHT.”
(The author is Principal (Retd) APS Damana)
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