DIRECTOR of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Mr. Mohandatt Goolsarran has posited that the future of sustainability depends on the public education inroads made today.
In invited views, he told the Guyana Chronicle that a conscious approach is being taken to address climate change, and NCERD in partnerships with several agencies, is advancing different programmes to facilitate change.
NCERD is responsible for curriculum development in the education sector and, in reaching one or two children in a household, its programmes are extended to entire families.
“We are making inroads in impacting the psyche of the general public. They see impacts of climate change and understand the importance to assist in whatever small way they can, will make a difference,” he said.
The NCERD Director noted that, in light of the measures taken, the general public is properly oriented and a platform for development is created to support Guyana’s take off in climate change mitigation and adaptation.
“We are making a significant impact,” Goolsarran maintained.
National Science Coordinator, Mrs. Petal Jetto added that much is being done at NCERD to incorporate the concept of climate change into the school curriculum.
She noted that recently science workshops conducted in the regions focused on practical activities that could be done to demonstrate the effects of climate change.
According to her, public awareness and education are key drivers in the successful implementation of policies, hence the focus on climate change, biodiversity and the low carbon initiative.
Jettoo said the Ministry of Education in its efforts to improve the quality and effectiveness of the delivery of science education, is in the process of reviewing its science curricula for the primary and secondary levels to include interactive lessons in areas that focus on awareness of climate change.
She pointed out that, in so doing, the Education Ministry recognised the value of partnerships and is currently collaborating with several entities, among which are
* United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO);
* Office of Climate Change;
* Conservation International;
* The School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Guyana (UG);
* The Agriculture Ministry’s Mangrove Action Committee (MAC); and
* The Caribbean Academy of Sciences. 
“Education needs to be everyone’s business,” she said.