The curriculum on environmental education from primary to Class 9 have been developed and a curriculum committee has been formulated to fine-tune the syllabus. It was announced by the Federal Minister for Environment Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi in a meeting with Unesco Director/Representative Maurice Robson, on Friday.
Additional Secretary Ministry of Environment Imtiaz Inayat Elahi and Director General Environment Javed Ali Khan were also present on the occasion. In the meeting it was agreed that the Ministry of Environment and Unesco would work together to develop curriculum for environmental education to promote the cause of sustainable development.
Afridi said that we are looking forward Unesco's assistance for mass awareness and education program of the Ministry and to launch massive awareness campaign with celebration of 2009 as the 'Year of Environment'. He said that the issue of the inclusion of environmental education in the higher education and university level has been taken with the Higher Education Commission.
The minister asked the visiting UN Representative to be a part of the activities organised during the 'Year of Environment'. Speaking on the occasion the Unesco Representative said that Unesco would like to assist the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Education to fine tune the syllabus of environmental education at primary, secondary and higher level.
Robson apprised the minister that Unesco is closely working with other UN agencies on initiatives under One UN programme to capitalised the advantages of linkages in different sectors. He suggested that strong cross ministerial linkages should be develop to streamline the efforts in this regard. He said that we would like to seek out areas of cooperation for future working for the mutual benefits of the ministry and Unesco.