Climate Change Education in the
SADC Higher Education Curriculum
Soul Shava (PhD)
UNISA, College of Education, Department
of Science & Technology Education
UNESCO Experts Meeting on CCE
20-22 March 2013
Book: CCE in SADC School Curriculum
Collaborative initiative between UNISA
(College of Economics & Management
Sciences - Exxaro Chair on Business &
CC; College of Education – Department of
Science, Technology & EE )
&
SADC REEP
Emerging findings
Country
Higher Education Institutions
Coverage of CCE
Angola
Teacher training and higher education
institutions
In EE
Botswana
University of Botswana
The University of Botswana offer courses with climate
change topics for teacher trainees for both primary and
secondary education. Teacher education curriculum in the
pure sciences (Environmental Science, Geography) and
social sciences (Environmental Education) provide
opportunities for climate change education.
DRC
Universities and higher education colleges
More emphasis on geography and environmental issues and
very little emphasis on climate change.
Lesotho
Teacher training colleges, university
Currently no integration but possibility of integration through
EE
Malawi
Teacher training colleges, universities
University of Malawi, Chancellor College: Geography and
Earth Sciences Department has integrated climate change
in some courses both at undergraduate and post graduate
level. Not integrated into teacher education.
Emerging findings
Country
Higher Education Institutions
Coverage of CCE
Mauritius
Universities, institutes including the
Mauritius Institute of Education
While universities have no full-fledged formal programme on
climate change per se, the curriculum of some of the
programmes at the University of Maritius (UoM) and University
of Technology (UTM) includes modules that partially address
climate change issues. The UoM has also been very active in
collaborating with local and international bodies in several
climate related research studies. In 2012 the Mauritius Institute
of Education MIE spearheaded two major projects (AAPCC
and CCESD) which were carefully designed to provide the
school managers, inspectors, curriculum developers and
educators with tools and methods for successfully integrating
the key issues and concepts of climate change related topics
(e.g. climate change, environment, natural disaster
preparedness and response, etc) into the core curriculum for
any subject or discipline in primary and secondary education.
Mozambique
Teacher education institutions, universities
CCE content is not specifically covered in teaching programs.
The most common content is on environmental aspects.
Namibia
Polytechnic, university
At the UNAM climate change topics are integrated in various
environmental related modules in Agriculture and
Environmental Sciences, Sciences, Law, Geography and
Environmental Studies and Environmental Management. At
the Polytechnic of Namibia climate change topics are also
integrated in the School of Natural Resources and School of
Environmental health. Climate Change is also taught at the
Polytechnic of Namibia in the National Environment Education
Certificate (NEEC).
Seychelles
Emerging findings
Country
Higher Education
Institutions
Coverage of CCE
South
Africa
Universities
South African universities provide teacher training which is mainly focused on pedagogic
strategies. The majority of institutions in South Africa, however, provide training and capacity
development programmes on climate change education that take the form of short courses
and workshops on climate change lasting from 2 to 5 days. The University of Cape Town
(UCT), for example, offers training workshops and short courses focusing on short-term
input and usually cover introductory course materials on adaptation and climate modelling.
These courses are popular but do not provide the necessary skills and knowledge that will
enable individuals with limited subject background to master climate change education.
In some universities, climate change is integrated in teacher education courses particularly in
environmental education. Stellenbosch has an Environmental Education Centre which offers
courses in environmental education in which climate change education is mainstreamed. At
Rhodes University, environmental education programmes are offered by the Environmental
Learning and Research Centre. Both centres offer programmes that are mainly targeted and
teachers. The focus of environmental education is much broader and hence climate change
will be just one part of the myriad of topics taught.
The African Centre for Climate and Earth System Sciences (ACCESS) together with the
University of Cape Town have a higher education project (university students) called the
Habitable Planet which has now been adapted for teachers as part of a Rhodes University
initiative to support teacher professional development for climate education in schools.
Supporting this approach is the Fundisa for Change Teacher Professional Development Network,
formerly known as the National Environmental Education Teacher Development Network
(NEETDN). The network is led by Rhodes University and is made up of a variety of partners
from government, higher education institutions, conservation and biodiversity institutions and
non-governmental organisations. It has developed several “exemplars” that can be used by
teachers to support their content knowledge, teaching methods and assessment practices.
One of the exemplars developed focuses on climate change. The approach looks at climate
change from the perspective of energy in the climate system.
Many other universities in South Africa have environmental centres and units which offer
programmes in which climate change features.
Emerging findings
Country
Higher
Education
Institutions
Coverage of CCE
Swaziland
Teacher training
and
university.
Initial Teacher Training (ITT) level indicates that the environmental issues which include climate
change are still a preserve of traditional subjects such as: Science, Social Studies,
Agriculture, Home Economics, Chemistry and Geography. The University of Swaziland has
embraced the UNESCO - MESA programme whose main mandate in to ensure the
mainstreaming of Environment and Sustainability issues at tertiary institutions. However
there is currently no specific coverage of CCE in the university curricula
Tanzania
Teacher
education,
university
Integration of climate change education EE aspects in teacher education. Climate change
related topics addressed in geography include weather and climate issues.
Zambia
Teacher training
colleges,
universities
University of Zambia has a detailed CCE Course (being offered at third year level as an elective)
under EE unit in the School of Education. Climate change is generally integrated in other
EE programme’s courses. In addition, the University of Zambia, and particularly EE Unit in
School of Education, was one of the institutions that piloted the Climate Change Education
for Sustainable Development Course designed by UNESCO between April and May, 2012.
Climate change is also integrated in various courses in the department of Geography and
Environmental Studies (GES) (former Department of Geography). However, the most
specific Geography courses where it is emphasised are Climatology, Elements of
Meteorology, Hydrology and Geomorphology. Climate change themes are integrated into
various university programmes such as Agricultural Science, Development Studies and
Sociological Studies.
Zimbabwe
Teacher training
colleges,
universities
The Environmental Science syllabus for primary teacher training and the Geography syllabus
secondary teacher training colleges has a very strong CC component. With regards to
university programmes, there is currently no specific programme on climate change
education. Solusi University and the University of Zimbabwe are offering degree
programmes in Environmental Science Education. The programmes were designed to
respond to environment and sustainability issues the nation is facing including climate
change.