Home » ON: Educational Alliance for Sustainable Ontario (EASO)

Ontario Working Group

 EASO BrochureInformation on EASO

Educational Alliance for Sustainable Ontario (EASO) has been established in response to the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (UNDESD), which runs from 2005 to 2014.  EASO is one of several provincial/territorial working groups established or under development across Canada.  It was initiated and supported by Learning for a Sustainable Future, Environment Canada and Ducks Unlimited Canada.

Vision & Mission

EASO intends to ensure that all people and ecosystems in Ontario are thriving sustainably, supported by an educated and engaged society. It provides a forum for collaboration and leadership to advance education for thriving, diverse communities and ecosystems.

Goals

It will achieve this vision by engaging senior leaders from provincial Ministries, federal government, the formal, informal and non-formal education sectors, business and community organizations in determining the goals, priorities and objectives for ESD activities and working together to support their regional advancement. EASO is one of seven Provincial/Territorial ESD Working Groups which have been established across Canada.

The broad objectives for EASO are to:

  • Build Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into the formal/non-formal and informal education culture, including the body of generally accepted curriculum and learning activities, teacher training, facilities management, procurement, etc.
  • Establish strategic collaborations between governments, education sector leaders, business, and community NGO’s in order to increase cohesion and leverage in creating a culture for ESD.
  • Relay a sense of urgency and the latest science on critical sustainability issues such HIV/Aids, climate change, poverty reduction and energy.
  • Coordinate, facilitate connections and bring together stake-holders from the formal, non-formal and in-formal education sector for policy input, debate, exchange, planning to enhance delivery of ESD activities in support of the UN’s Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.

Specifically, EASO will:

  • Create an expectation that all relevant policy, regulatory and operational frameworks support education for sustainable development;
  • Lead in establishing strategic collaborations among governments, education sector leaders, business communities, NGOs and community groups to leverage sustainability education;
  • Establish a process for evaluating formal, non-formal and informal learning/education sectors in response to ESD, and for reporting to appropriate provincial, national and UN bodies related to ESD;
  • Ensure a viable governance structure, sustainable processes and adequate funding and resources for EASO administration and program development

Results

The expected results are:

  • A culture of Education for Sustainable Development is fostered in Canada;
  • Support for educators and youth as they pursue practical and action-oriented activities in support of Education for Sustainable Development;
  • Advanced policy and curricula related to Education for Sustainable Development
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