Round Table to Discuss Beefing up Environmental Education in Canada’s Public Schools
January 21, 2008 – ECO Canada is organizing a round table discussion on January 23, 2008 to address the issue of environmental education in Canada’s elementary and secondary school systems. The round table will bring together key decision makers from government, the educational community, and industry to create a shared vision for integrating environmental education into Alberta’s school system.
“In the past, the environment was not significant within the public agenda. With growing environmental consciousness, the environment has suddenly emerged as a critical issue, not just in the eyes of the public, but by decision-makers in the public education system. More and more, leaders in education, industry, and government are viewing environmental education as a solution to Canada’s long-term economic and environmental sustainability,” says Grant Trump, President and CEO of ECO Canada.
Initially, the project will be an Alberta-focused pilot that will ultimately include all other provinces and territories in Canada. At this stage, delegates will include representatives from Alberta as well as representatives from the governments of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and the Toronto District School Board. Post-secondary representatives from institutions including the University of Calgary, the University of Lethbridge, and SAIT will also be participating.
“Currently, environment is included in the education system in isolated areas such as outdoor education and in science coursework,” says Trump. “There are also few connections to post-secondary science and technology education. Our goal is to create a vision for how to integrate environment into the public educational system at all levels, to ensure that all students are aware of environmental issues, and to provide seamless transitions for youth who want to pursue further education in science and technology.”
ECO Canada’s own labour market research shows that the environmental labour market is growing 60% faster than the economy as a whole and predicts that growth will continue. However, a significant number of students registering in science and technology programs at the post-secondary level are dropping out of those programs prior to graduation.
“The attrition rate from Canada’s post-secondary environmental programs is problematic for both environmental and economic sustainability of the country as a whole,” says Trump. “We want to ensure that young Canadians have the tools they need to make critical career decisions.”
This initiative is a partnership between ECO Canada, Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry, and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.