In line with its efforts to strengthen climate change education in the country, teachers under the Department of Education (DepEd) underwent online training.
Through “Climate Changemakers,” DepEd partnered with Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) where exchange alumni set out to strengthen climate change education.
“Time is of the essence. Climate change is an emergency. The time to act is now,” said DepEd Disaster Risk Reduction Management Service (DRRMS) Director Ronilda Co.
Climate Changemakers is the first climate change training course recognized by the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) as part of the Professional Development Priorities of the DepEd.
DepEd said that the program aims to increase the capacities of teachers to effectively teach climate change competencies, integrate climate change in competencies, and commit to climate action.
Some 400 teachers completed the ten-week online course that utilized synchronous and asynchronous modalities focusing on correcting misconceptions about climate change.
Climate Changemakers is also supported by the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, Save the Children Philippines, YGoal Philippines, Climate Reality Project Philippines, and Climate Action for Sustainability Initiative.
The online training also provided a space for teachers to reflect on their learning and share challenges and good practices.
The course featured lectures from exchange alumni of the YSEALI program of the U.S. Department of State, representatives and former and present members of the National Panel of Technical Experts of the Climate Change Commission, technical specialists and teachers from the Department of Education, and climate change-focused organizations like the Oscar M. Lopez (OML) Center and Youth Strike for Climate Philippines.
The first batch of the training was held from November 2021 to March 2022 where the completers were trained to be mentors in partnership with the Divisions of Apayao, Sorsogon, Iloilo City, Eastern Samar, and Surigao Del Sur from the Cordillera Administrative Region, Region V, VII, VIII, and Caraga, respectively.
The second batch was opened to all K to 12 teachers from public and private schools across the country where hundreds applied and completed their synchronous and asynchronous activities.
Following the ongoing K to 12 curriculum review and revision, Co said that DepEd will further enhance the Climate Changemakers online training course before its next release in 2023.
“We hope to continue training our teachers to effectively teach climate education and ultimately answer the call to commit to climate action in the Philippines,” she added.