SEAMEO-Japan ESD Award Searching for Best Model Schools

Thailand, The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO); the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT); the UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education; and the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd are pleased to announce the launch of the SEAMEO-Japan Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Award.

The award will be held every year from 2012 to 2014 to promote and share best practices in ESD in schools across Southeast Asia.

In view of recent natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, cyclones, landslides and etc. that have caused massive destruction, including the loss of lives and a devastating effect on communities in Japan and in Southeast Asian countries, the theme of 2012 SEAMEO-Japan ESD Award is “Education for Disaster Risk Reduction” which aims to: 1) raise awareness of Education for Disaster Risk Reduction among schools and communities in Southeast Asia; 2) promote and share best practices of Education for Disaster Risk Reduction within schools and communities in Southeast Asia; and 3) prepare schools and communities in Southeast Asia plan strategies that reduce risk and losses caused by natural disasters.

All public and private schools in the 11 Southeast Asian countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam are invited to submit the information about their respective school’s activities/programmes related to the theme “Education for Disaster Risk Reduction”.  The last day for submission of entries is on 10 August 2012.

The 1st winning school will receive a monetary prize of USD 1,500 and a study tour of 4-6 persons to Japan for 4 days.  All winning schools will be sponsored to participate in the award presentation ceremony which will be held at the SEAMEO High Officials Meeting in November 2012 in Thailand.  (*)