Organised by the Centre for Sustainable Transforma­tion (CeST) in collaboration with Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Education, it was part of activities to mark the 10th Anniversary of the “Eco Schools” project in Ghana.

The Eco Schools project is aimed at educating students at all levels on the Sustainable Devel­opment Goals and sustainability through theory and practice to ensure that students developed critical thinking, entrepreneurial and innovative mind sets to make them agents of change in the society.

Speaking at the conference, the Acting Manager of the Insti­tute for Sanitation and Environ­ment, University of Ghana (UG), Legon, Professor Benedicta Fosu Mensah, emphasised the need for stakeholders in the educational sector to adopt a transformative approach of education that ad­dressed critical global challenges.

Prof. Mensah also stressed the importance of integrating sustainability components into school curriculum at all levels in order to empower learners with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to create a more equitable and sustainable future.

“Sustainable development is not just about preserving natural resources, it is about fostering societies where economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection goes hand in hand,” Prof. Mensah said.

“Education, therefore, must be the catalyst that powers individuals with the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes necessary to contrib­ute meaningful to the institution.

Sustainability must be woven into the fabric of our curriculum at all levels. From the primary school to the universities, learners must be exposed to the inter­connections between ecological, economic and social systems. Education should not only impact knowledge, but also inspire ac­tion”, she added.

Prof. Mensah emphasised that it was important for barriers that hinder access to quality education such as poverty, discrimination and the lack of educational infrastruc­ture be addressed.

The Co-Founder of CeST, Ms Hilde Opoku, in her remarks, reiterated the need for innovative approaches to education as it was the cornerstone for achieving sustainable development.

Highlighting the urgent need for critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability, she argued that education systems must become more engaging, purpose-driven, and innovative.

Ms Opoku, therefore, urged policymakers, educators, and young people to rethink their ap­proach to education and sustain­ability.

“Education has long been a one-way street, with teachers lecturing and students passively taking notes. But that model no longer suits the challenges or crisis we face”, she said.

“This generation will bear the responsibility of solving these crises. Businesses as usual will not suffice”, she warned. For her part, the Acting headmistresses of Akosombo International School (AIS), Mrs Sarah Freda Adei, said the Eco-Schools in Ghana programme, had not only grown to become a global move­ment but had also made positive impacts.

According to her, it had inspired schools to adopt sustainable practices, integrated environmental education in cur­ricula, and fostered a culture of stewardship among students.

This, she stated, had led to the reduction of waste in schools, conservation of energy, promotion of biodiversity, and the advocacy for sustainable practices within communities.

That notwithstanding, Mrs Adei called for the continued integration of sustainability into educational systems, innovation and collaboration between key stakeholders in the education sector, and community engage­ment to help promote sustain­ability development.

Among the attendees were representatives from the educa­tion sector, Centre for Sustain­able Transformation, students and teachers from Accra Tech­nical Training Centre, Saint John Bosco, and AIS.