Promoting the integration of ocean conservation education in educational programs in Vietnam

Conference scene

The workshop was attended by more than 100 delegates in person and online, including leaders of a number of units under the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and other relevant ministries and agencies; Departments of Education and Training; experts on marine conservation and environmental education; officials from UNESCO and the Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences...

The workshop aimed to consult on the initial survey results on the situation of marine and ocean conservation in the two areas of Cu Lao Cham and Can Gio, and discuss issues related to the integration of ocean conservation content in the 2018 general education program; listen to opinions from experts and those directly involved in the process of protecting the marine environment, educators; discuss plans and ideas for building a set of educational materials on ocean conservation in the coming time.

Prof. Dr. Le Anh Vinh, Director of Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences, delivered the opening speech at the conference.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Prof. Dr. Le Anh Vinh, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences, said: The project "Ocean Conservation Education" is an initiative of UNESCO, introduced at the Global Environment Week in September 2024, aiming to provide educational tools and materials to help educators and students better understand the importance of protecting the marine environment.

Over the past time, the project has conducted surveys in two typical areas, Cu Lao Cham and Can Gio - sites recognized by UNESCO as world biosphere reserves. These survey results have provided valuable data, helping to better understand the actual situation and build a solid foundation for ocean conservation education plans.

Ms. Miki Nozawa, Head of Education, UNESCO Office in Hanoi, speaking at the workshop

According to Prof. Dr. Le Anh Vinh, we are currently living in a context of climate change with many unpredictable developments. The impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels, extreme weather and coastal erosion, are posing great challenges to the environment and people's lives. The ocean not only provides valuable resources but also plays an essential role in regulating the climate and protecting biodiversity. In particular, Vietnam is a country with a long coastline and a rich ecosystem. Given this situation, ocean protection has become an urgent task not only for researchers and managers, but this content needs to be integrated into the education system.

“Equipping the young generation with knowledge and skills about ocean conservation will help them realize the importance of environmental protection and contribute to sustainable conservation efforts in the future,” said Prof. Dr. Le Anh Vinh.

Research team representative presented the project results.

Speaking at the workshop, Ms. Miki Nozawa, Head of Education, UNESCO Office in Hanoi, said: The new initiative, called “Conserve Our Oceans: Building a Healthy Relationship with the Ocean”, is part of UNESCO’s commitment as the United Nations’ leading agency for Education for Sustainable Development, with the goal of transforming education to respond to the urgent challenges facing the planet.

The project's unique feature is its emphasis on collaboration between partners and stakeholders from various walks of life, including educators and those responsible for biodiversity conservation and sustainable ecosystem management ; promoting international exchange and cooperation . At the same time, the project focuses on experiential and real-world educational programs, ensuring that learners not only acquire knowledge but also have the ability to make decisions based on concrete actions, in line with the new approach in the 2018 General Education Program.

Deputy Director of Department of Science, Technology and Environment Tran Nam Tu shared at the workshop

At the workshop, the research team representative presented a report on opportunities to integrate ocean conservation education into the 2018 general education program in Vietnam, including integration into subject programs, local education programs, experiential activities , and the current status of conservation education in biosphere reserves in Cu Lao Cham and Can Gio.

Appreciating the purpose of the project, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Dinh Tho, Director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said: The positive results of the project will contribute significantly to the implementation of Article 153 of the Law on Environmental Protection No. 72/2020/QH14 dated November 17, 2020. In which, the responsibilities of the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in regulating the content, education and training programs on environmental protection and developing human resources for environmental protection are clearly defined.

Delegates attending the conference took a souvenir photo

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Dinh Tho hopes that the project will have a larger spread, learn more about the institution, do well in every small thing, find a way to motivate each participant, link the responsibility of each individual with the global mission, solve 3 urgent problems: climate change, environmental pollution and biodiversity loss.

Deputy Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Ministry of Education and Training Tran Nam Tu highly appreciated the initiative of UNESCO and the research team in contributing to protecting the living environment of humanity. According to Mr. Tran Nam Tu , the project needs to expand the target audience not only to students, but also to teachers and parents, with appropriate methods and content to improve efficiency and have long-term, sustainable impacts.

Thanking the delegates for their contributions and sharing, Prof. Dr. Le Anh Vinh said that the attention of managers, experts and teachers shows that this is a very important issue and will be continued to be researched and improved by the Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences and UNESCO, with the aim of disseminating the most important and core contents in schools, to facilitate teachers and increase the effectiveness of the project. The cooperation of all ministries, departments and branches will contribute significantly to protecting and preserving the blue ocean for future generations.

Source: https://moet.gov.vn/tintuc/Pages/tin-tong-hop.aspx?ItemID=9930