Presentation during The 3rd ESD Country Report Meeting: Looking Towards 2015 and Beyond, UNESCO,

Jakarta, Indonesia, on 6th June, 2012.

COUNTRY REPORT
ON EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (ESD)
FOR BRUNEI DARUSSALAM 2012

By:
Nor Erawadi Hj Ibrahim
Science, Technology and Environment Partnership (STEP) Centre
Ministry of Education
Brunei Darussalam

Introduction

This country report on ESD for Brunei Darussalam is an extension of the previous one that was prepared
by Brunei Darussalam National Commission for UNESCO and published by UNESCO Jakarta Office.
Key ideas may be repeated or slightly changed as progresses on ESD implementation been made since
the 5 cluster countries first met. During that meeting in Jakarta in 2010, apart from sharing latest
information, achievements, challenges, priorities and future directions in ESD, the cluster countries have
established a dynamic synergy in programme implementation on ESD. Following that meeting too, the
five cluster countries have identified the need for ESD to focus on key identical area, which was, the
development of a strong Climate Change Education component within the national ESD context as well
as identifying that education on Disaster Risk Reduction as closely related.

In Brunei Darussalam, a national workshop on ESD focused in climate change education (CCE) was held
in November 2011 whose key participants, comprising of education officials, educators, related ministries
officers and an NGO member, identified further action on those two components. Much of the report here
are outcome of the sharing and discussions during that valuable workshop. The priority action agreed
upon was the need for public awareness and education on CCE.

National institutional ESD framework (Policy, Law and Actions)

To date, there is no official or specific policy earmarked as ESD National Strategy or ESD National
Guidelines for Brunei Darussalam. Hence, there is no enacted law with regard to ESD in the country. Of
course, there are numerous efforts and actions connected to sustainable development agenda for the
country. For example, Brunei Darussalam has adopted the United Nations International Strategy for
Disaster Reduction Hyogo Framework for Actions 2005-2015. The Disaster Management Order was
passed by His Majestys government in 2006 to focus on disaster risk reduction and rapid response.
Brunei Darussalam officially ratified the Kyoto Protocol agreement in 2009 and in 2010, Brunei National
Council on Climate Change was formally established.

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National goals and priorities in ESD

The national agenda for sustainable development in Brunei Darussalam are pursued by individual
ministries in relation to the specific social, economic and environmental issues that they deal with. Those
ministries are also responsible for the promotion of their sustainable development activities as a form of
education for sustainable development. Socialization efforts are strengthened through inter-ministerial
cooperation, networking, and private-public partnerships as corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a
must for major corporations nowadays. Much of the efforts involve communities and youths whereby
schoolchildren and secondary students are very keen to participate.

The Ministry of Education has not developed a specific ESD framework and although Curriculum
Development Department has not established environmental education as a single subject, attempts are
made to integrate environmental issues across multiple subjects. MOE Brunei Darussalam, through the
ESD workshop, has identified environment, energy and health as three focus issues on addressing
climate change and disaster risk reduction.

Working plans currently exist for further promotion of ESD in Brunei Darussalam. The Ministry of
Education, as the countrys National Commission for UNESCO, is committed to take action on ESD by:
Establishing task force on ESD and the proper administrative structure for national ESD
management.
Developing a database on ESD activities and projects.
Utilizing the database to identify good practices on ESD to contribute to Brunei Darussalams
sustainability.
Formulate policy or guidelines on ESD based on consultations with key stakeholders.

National implementation of ESD Achievements, good practices and lesson-learnt

ESD in schools in non-formal and informal education

As mentioned above, based on the national workshop, the common identified priority issue is the need for
public awareness and education in environmental education to combat climate change and disaster
risk reduction.

To date, numerous initiatives have been implemented especially on the topic of climate change. There
are pockets of initiatives through school communities including parent-teachers associations (PTA) and
the schools immediate communities. Co-curricular activities through the formation of Environmental club,
Energy club, Green club, Nature club, Recycling club and Forestry club have been popular among
environmental-conscious Bruneian students. Specific activities are usually initiated by teachers or
interested government agencies as well as private companies. In some schools, there are 3R initiatives
but these are not mandated. For formal curriculum, subjects like Geography, Social Studies and
obviously Sciences, topics related to climate change have certain interests.

As mentioned earlier, our education system has already integrated ESD-related issues on environment
and health in geography and science for example. The content in the formal curriculum are basically (1)
Values-based approach to teaching and learning (Integration) and (2) Subject based (Sciences, Social
Studies and Geography, Agriculture). Examples of topics studied in social studies and science are (1)
Our Resources ; (2) Global Warming ; (3) Pollution ; (4) Deforestation ; (5) Personal Health ; and (6)
Conservation of Water. These values are hoped to (i) create awareness ; (ii) create concern ; and (iii) to
care about the environment. ESD values are easily aligned with the national education system, SPN 21
and Brunei Vision 2035.

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ESD in higher education

Higher education institutions in Brunei Darussalam have also been implementing ESD activities.
Universiti Brunei Darussalam has initiated several environmental education initiatives including climate
change mitigation, action research and community problem solving (CPS). As part of the CPS
programme, the university has initiated an elective course at the undergraduate level, a core course at
the post-graduate level for the masters in environmental management, and an optional course at the
post-graduate level for the masters of education. Institut Teknologi Brunei (ITB) university began a
project on rainwater harvesting for domestic dwellings to create awareness amongst students on the
importance of water conservation. Their lecturers are also active in solar energy programmes and
activities. Students from some vocational and technical training centres participated in the Shell Eco-
Marathon competition which is supported by Brunei Shell Petroleum Company.

ESD for teachers

Basically, teachers in primary and secondary schools throughout the country have show keenness in
implementing ESD activities in particular green activities in their schools either as extra-curricular
activities or out of own interests. There have been talks and workshops on empowering the teachers to
promote environmentalism in schools. However, there has been no proper pedagogical training on ESD
inculcation in subject teaching per se.

To sum up, ESD in academic institutions in Brunei Darussalam are specifically in promoting green
initiatives as part of preserving the environment efforts. For example, the 3Rs, reducing wastes, picking
rubbish on beaches and school compounds, tree planting, energy reduction and conservation through
energy auditing, landscaping, planting of fruit trees, etc. All sectors (primary, secondary and tertiary) with
the support of local companies and agencies have carried out activities are either through campaigns,
seminars, forums, visits, competitions or talks.

National and international cooperation and parnership for ESD

Ministry of Education realise the importance of collaboration and partnership in championing

1. Ministry of Development through Department. of Environment, Parks and Recreation (DEPR) has
also been active in implementing awareness programmes especially on environmental education.
For example, they were involved in raising 3R awareness in schools, formation of Eco-clubs in
some secondary schools, formation of Brunei Environmental Youth Envoys (EYEs) which try to
empower and having youth as advocates to the environment and since March 2011 has enforced
a nationwide No Plastic Bag Weekend initiative on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays which
involve many big supermarkets and receive full support of the public.

2. Forestry Department, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources have long organised the
Princess Rashidahs Young Nature Scientists Award (PRYNSA), which allow several secondary
students to carry out natural and biodiversity research in the forests of Brunei Darussalam.
Another event by the department is the tree planting campaign called Green Waves whereby
each school or organisation plant a tree at 10 a.m. to mark World Forestry Day.

3. The National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) has its own programme of activities
specifically in reducing disaster risks. To date, they carry out best practice programmes such as
community-based disaster risk management (CBDRM) involving Hazard Mapping, Town
Watching and Life Saving Skills along with other initiatives. Brunei Darussalams NDMC
partners closely with their regional counterparts and agencies in their DRR effort.

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 4. A local NGO called Beach Bunch has taken positive actions especially on cleaning beaches in
Brunei Darussalam. They have organised waste management talk in schools and clean-up
programmes. The Blue Flag Programme that they are trying to achieve is an eco-international
standard for sustainable beaches.

5. Private sectors, local and international agencies and organisations are very supportive to the
community especially on providing financial and resource support. They are some that contribute
recycle bins (for example Standard Chartered Bank and Daikyo Recycling Company) and others
that organise local environmental competitions (for example Asia Inc. and Butra Heidelberg
Cement Company).

Through Brunei Darussalam NatCom for UNESCO, several capacity building workshops on ESD have
been conducted for ministry personnel to be knowledgeable about the subject. A presentation by
National ESD Co-ordinators to MOE directors and school heads was initiated in 2009. Then, capacity
building workshops on ESD for Brunei Darussalam were conducted in April 2010 and November 2011.
These were supported by UNESCO Bangkok and Jakarta Office ESD experts respectively and attended
by relevant MOE officers, several other ministries, private sectors and NGO. An officer from a unit in
MOE, Science, Technology and Environment Partnership Centre (STEP Centre), is also representing
MOE as part of Brunei Darussalams delegation to ASEAN Working Group on Environmental Education
(AWGEE).

Issues constraining the implementation of ESD

1. Educators in the national ESD workshop proposed a proper procedure in education, expertise
and policy on mainstreaming and streamlining ESD among the academic community. They felt
this would be more effective in changing the mindsets or attitudes as required in ESD. The
benefits of such exposure will then improve the knowledge, values, attitude and actions which are
an important part of life-long learning.

2. There should be pre-service teacher training programmes on ESD as well as in-house training for
practising teachers. MOE officers also require professional training on implementation of ESD
too. If such actions are not taken, there will always be limited involvement and wading
commitment when we all need continuity or sustainability in such efforts to succeed.

3. Problem of Reaching the Unreached. NDMC have social programmes for students which they
hoped they can disseminate to all schools in Brunei Darussalam. This is a tough assignment as
there are hundreds of schools compared to their limited manpower and resources.

ESD achievements, good practices and lesson-learnt

The country is very much concerned with global issues in particular our environment. MOE through
STEP Centre, Department of Schools, Director-Generals Office and many others play important roles to
help educate the students in curbing the issues of environment.

STEP Centre has started to publish Green STEPs magazine which contain articles of programmes and
activities organised by academic institutions in the country. The annual magazine serves as a platform
for information and knowledge-sharing on green efforts in education in Brunei Darussalam. From the
article by contributing teachers, many schools showed involvement in national level initiatives which serve
as good practices where lessons can be learnt by other schools as well. There are many more examples
but some of them are highlighted below.

1. GreenSTEPs seminar and workshops Several workshops have been conducted to enable and
empower teachers and students of Brunei Darussalam on taking actions on environmental

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 issues. STEP Centre, MOE has carried out several seminars whereby invited speakers who are
experts in environmental education come and share their thoughts.

2. Green Waves initiatives This initiative by Forestry Department, Ministry of Industry and
st
Primary Resources with the support of HSBC bank is held on 21 May to celebrate the World
Forest Day. The aim of this event is to encourage students to be involved and aware on the
importance of biodiversity and their green environment. All the participating schools across
Brunei Darussalam plant a tree seedling at exactly 10.00 am. In 2011, the initiative was themed
Biodiversity, Development and Poverty Alleviation.
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3. Earth Day celebration is also becoming an annual event for schools in the country on every 22
April. Schools organise all sorts of activities in their campaign to raise awareness on
environmental issues as well as to promote the preservation and maintenance of our planet
Earth. There might be essay competitions, 3R-product exhibitions or simply having all the
students to wear green uniform on that day!

4. Beach cleaning campaigns have also become a routine activity for many agencies and NGOs in
the country. Ministers of several government ministries will lead the activity to show the
seriousness of keeping the countrys coastline clean and beautiful.

5. Earth Hour is also celebrated whereby many government office buildings or national landmarks
switch off the lights for one hour starting at 8.30 p.m. for that symbolic gesture of saving energy
and caring for our planet.

6. Through the collaboration of Asia Inc., STEP Centre, ISB and JIS, there is an annual competition
of Youth Go Green Initiative Awards and the Eco-Video Competition held in conjunction with
the National Environment Conference. These competitions aim to recognize the contribution of
Bruneian youths in promoting environmental awareness on the effects of climate change and
global warming as well as stimulating their creative minds in taking action to save the
environment for their future through innovative green solutions. During the finals, the schools
also showcased their projects in the Lets Go Green exhibition.

7. School in the Garden competition is a new MOE effort which combines greenery landscape with
healthy living in the school community. This is a 2-year rotation project whereby recognition to
the winning schools will be given as part of its School Best Practice awards. It is hoped to help
the youths in the schools to understand the basic ecological principles through direct involvement
with nature, hence creating the school gardens.

Challenges and opportunities

Participants from the national workshop on ESD brought up several issues that can be seen as
challenges and opportunities.

1. If we want to reorient education as a strategic method of inculcating ESD values, how do you
integrate this into the curriculum ? There must be a defined thematic approach as a way of
integrating climate change education into the curriculum and by incorporating various subjects
across all levels from primary to secondary. It must be very specific and clear as to how to
integrate these themes into teaching.

2. There was also a bold proposal whereby policy mandate for schools to be Eco Schools. This
would ensure that all the green efforts such as 3R initiatives are aligned. In other words, they
suggested All Schools are Eco Schools as a national or MOE policy. As for the teacher training,
thematic approach of CCE as part of teacher training programme is also to be made compulsory.

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 3. Socialization and mobilization wise, there should be more exposure or public awareness on ESD
activities. This can be in the form of roadshows, project-based activity, seminar, community work,
etc. One simple activity is by creating an activity which makes them self-aware of their own
carbon footprints. Participants from MOD and NDMC also felt the need to educate people by
organising activities and programmes on a regular basis which has so far have not been
consistent.

Future national plan on or upcoming activities of ESD

A major goal of Brunei Darussalams ESD team is to establish a strong foothold on the concept of ESD in
the national agenda and the strengthening and support of new and on-going ESD initiatives. This, we
believe, can be done through :

1. A dynamic formal infrastructural framework for ESD in Brunei Darussalam whose members
consist of relevant authorities, corporate communities and NGOs whom should have a very
comprehensive short and long term plans for ESD efforts to be mainstreamed or celebrated in
this country. A set of several organisational structure has been proposed nationally, which are :

a) Proposed Framework for National ESD Management;

2. The development of this official infrastructural and framework on ESD must be aligned with
Brunei Darussalams aspirations as outlined in Brunei Vision 2035 and SPN-21. This must be
preceded with the formation of a national level committee, i.e. an organisational structure
between agencies in Brunei Darussalam and within each ministry as mentioned above.

Conclusions

1. Within the educational framework, the efforts of mainstreaming ESD into the curriculum via
various avenues have and will always be continued. Among the strategies highlighted during the
national ESD workshop included the need for curricular transformation, teacher training,
roadshows in schools throughout the country, competitions, resources pack, PTA and community
active involvement and many more.

2. Based on responses from different agencies in Brunei Darussalam, there is an opportunity, and
demand, for a unifying purpose, framework and mechanism in promoting climate change
education and disaster risk reduction for Brunei Darussalam.

3. MOE through STEP Centre, and with the support of Department of Schools and others, hopes
that there will be a formalisation and localisation of Ecoschool or green schools effort in Brunei
Darussalam in an acceptable alignment with national and international aspirations such as those
introduced by UNESCO, ISESCO, SEAMEO, UNEP, ASEAN, etc.

4. With the guidance and aid of UNESCO, we hope to continue develop and improve capacity for
implementing ESD within Brunei Darussalam and provide better coordination and co-operation
with the other cluster countries for cooperative actions on ESD.