Alan Pulis, Maria Brown and Alexia Georgakopoulos are the authors of 'Education for Sustainable Development in Non-formal Set-Ups: Diagnosing a Culture of Inertia' published in Springer's Handbook of Lifelong Learning and Sustainable Development (Leal Filho, Mifsud & Pace Eds., 2017).
The chapter discusses findings of research with political parties, religious organisations, local councils and select government entities in Malta, as part of broader research targeting informed formulation of Nurturing a Sustainable Society: A National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development for Malta (NSESD).
Despite voluminous evidence of ESD initiatives, research findings testified to sporadic use of resources and mayhem in the conceptual understanding of ESD. Notwithstanding recent efforts, such as formalizing ESD within Malta’s National Curriculum Framework (NCF), interdependency and coordination within and between state and civil society are weak. Consequently, the need to challenge the resulting organisational 'culture of inertia'. Ultimately, ESD remains a political issue; grassroots efforts need the commitment of the political class and an appropriate legislative framework.
Despite voluminous evidence of ESD initiatives, research findings testified to sporadic use of resources and mayhem in the conceptual understanding of ESD. Notwithstanding recent efforts, such as formalizing ESD within Malta’s National Curriculum Framework (NCF), interdependency and coordination within and between state and civil society are weak. Consequently, the need to challenge the resulting organisational 'culture of inertia'. Ultimately, ESD remains a political issue; grassroots efforts need the commitment of the political class and an appropriate legislative framework.
Alan Pulis is a public officer and a Board Member of the Guardian for Future Generations. Maria Brown is visiting senior lecturer at the University of Malta. Alexia Georgakopoulos is a senior policy officer on climate change issues.