As schools worldwide navigate the use of distance learning due to the global pandemic, Our City 2030 Philippines, in its effort to continuously assist partner schools by providing innovative learning exchanges amidst the current situation, conducted its first teachers’ Webinar on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and its relationship to COVID-19 last June 2, 2020.

The two-hour online session was attended by 59 teachers from the three partner public high schools and the Alternative Learning System (ALS), who had  previously attended several trainings under the Our City 2030 project since 2018. These educators were provided a review on the characteristics and pillars of Education for Sustainable Development that aims to remind them of the role of education in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This was also seen as a learning motivation for  the teachers as they prepare for the proposed blended learning setup of the Department of Education (DepEd). Also present in the online activity were three representatives from the Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department (EPWMD) of the Local Government of Quezon City, which is  the partner city of the project.

“I was reviewed that ESD is an educational [method] that encourages changes  in knowledge, skills, values, attitudes and participation of every individual to balance [the] environment, economic and social aspects”, Mrs. Alma Gacuan, a teacher participant said when asked about her feedback on the webinar.

A discussion on the connection of ESD and COVID-19 was also a highlight of the webinar led by the Environmental Education (EE) team of WWF-Philippines. Some examples on how the pandemic has become a sustainability challenge were presented to show how it affects the interconnectivity of our environment, economy, and society. Sample lesson topics were also shared to provide the teachers some ideas on how they can relate COVID-19 into their own class activities using ESD.