MoE, UNESCO to work together for environmental education
By Khalid Amin

Islamabad—Ministry of Environment and UNESCO would work together to develop curriculum for environmental education and capacity building of the environmental journalists to promote the cause of sustainable development in the country.
This was agreed in a meeting of UNESCO Director/Representative Mr. Maurice Robson with the Federal Minister for Environment Mr. Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi here today. Addl. Secretary Ministry of Environment Mr. Imtiaz Inayat Elahi and Director General Environment Mr. Javed Ali Khan also attended the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion the Federal Minister said that mass awareness and education has been identified as one the main areas of activity under One UN Reform Programme. He said that we are looking forward UNESCO assistance for mass awareness and education programme of the Ministry and to launch massive awareness campaign to be launched in connection with celebration of 2009 as the Year of Environment. He apprised that the curriculum regarding environmental education from primary to 9th class level have been developed and curriculum committee has been formulated to fine tune the syllabus. 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 organized 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. As proposed by the Minister the UNESCO Representative agreed to be the part of the curriculum committee on environmental education. Mr. Robson apprised the Minister that UNESCO is closely working with other UN agencies on initiatives under One UN programme to capitalized the advantages of linkages in different sectors. He said that UNESCO would actively participate in mass awareness actives being launched by the Ministry of Environment so as to promote cause of sustainable development in the country.