Council of Europe Guidance on applying the RFCDC to Education for Sustainable Development
Background
The Council of Europe’s Education Department has released a new Guidance document on applying the Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture (RFCDC) to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). The publication helps policy makers and educators connect sustainability learning with democratic participation and human rights by using the RFCDC’s competence model.
Education for sustainable development is most powerful when it equips learners to think critically, act responsibly, and participate peacefully in democratic life. This guidance shows how to make that link in curricula, classrooms and communities,” said the Head of the Education Department.
The document sets out the purpose and benefits of using the RFCDC for ESD, including the added emphasis on democracy and human rights, and shows how the RFCDC’s 20 competences can be readily applied to strengthen learners’ ability to take responsible individual and collective democratic action in support of sustainability.
What the Guidance provides:
- How RFCDC and ESD fit together, and why the RFCDC adds value to ESD through its focus on democracy and human rights.
- Transformative pedagogies that make ESD concrete: co-operative learning, inquiry-based and project-based learning, service learning, outdoor learning and field work.
- Coherent implementation advice on aligning curriculum, pedagogy and assessment so students develop both subject knowledge and RFCDC-ESD competences.
- Practical examples and planning pointers that education authorities and schools can adapt to their context.
Who it is for:
The guidance addresses ministries of education and policy makers, teachers and school leaders (pre-primary to secondary), and non-formal educators such as youth workers, NGOs, museums and libraries.