South Korea Middle School Environmental Education

Environmental Education in South Korea is integrated into the curriculum through various approaches. For middle schools, the subject "The Environment" is a dedicated elective.

Curriculum Revisions

The curriculum has undergone several revisions, with the most recent being in 2022. This revision emphasized "ecological transformation" across all subjects and introduced new elective courses related to climate change within "Science" and "Social Studies."

The Environment (Middle School Elective)

The 2022 revised curriculum for "The Environment" focuses on developing competencies for a sustainable future. The curriculum is structured around five domains:

1. The Environment and Humanity: Explores the interconnectedness of humans and the environment. 2. Environmental Systems: Examines the workings of environmental systems. 3. Environmental Problems and Issues: Investigates various environmental challenges. 4. Climate Crisis and Climate Action: Focuses on understanding and addressing climate change, including topics like carbon neutrality and climate action. 5. Sustainability and Civic Engagement: Encourages active participation in creating a sustainable society.

The curriculum emphasizes "connect-explore-engage" as a guiding principle, promoting in-depth learning and the development of core competencies such as environmental sensitivity, systems thinking, collaboration, communication, problem-solving, and information literacy. It also incorporates real-world issues, encourages interaction and collaboration, and promotes career-connected learning opportunities.