SEAMEO BIOTROP Initiates the Discussion on the Inclusion of Biodiversity Education in the Curriculum of ASEAN High and Vocational Students Tuesday, 21 February 2023 on 12:17pm

SEAMEO BIOTROP Initiates the Discussion on the Inclusion of Biodiversity Education in the Curriculum of ASEAN High and Vocational Students

SEAMEO BIOTROP, a leading centre in Tropical Biology in Southeast Asia, has recently conducted a study on the inclusion of biodiversity education in the curriculum of ASEAN high school and vocational students under the Ministry of Education. This study is a part of SEAMEO Centers Policy Research Network (CPRN) and aims to save biodiversity early on through environmental education.

In order to promote and evaluate the study findings that have been done in Indonesia, SEAMEO BIOTROP held a discussion meeting on the Inclusion of Biodiversity Education in the Curriculum of ASEAN High and Vocational Students on 20 February 2023 through Zoom meeting.

Coordinator for the study of Biodiversity Inclusion, Mrs Risa Rosita, stated that as a leading centre in Tropical Biology in Southeast Asia, SEAMEO BIOTROP needs to develop and improve innovative strategies to address strategic problems and challenges in Science and Education, one of which is related to efforts to save biodiversity from an early age.

Through this study, SEAMEO BIOTROP hopes to assess students' awareness of tropical biodiversity, to find out the interest in education in ASEAN related to biodiversity and environmental issues, and to produce policy recommendations regarding the inclusion of "biodiversity" material through environmental education among high schools in Indonesia and ASEAN.

In attendance at the discussion of the meeting were Dr Zulhamsyah Imran (Director of SEAMEO BIOTROP), Prof. Amirul Al-Ashraf Balakrishnan Abdullah (Governing Board (GB) Member from Malaysia), Dr Evelyn V Bigcas (Mindanao State University), and Dr Dinny Mardiana (SEAMEO SEAQIS). They discussed the importance of including young minds in the awareness of biodiversity inclusion, as they are future leaders. Dr Imran expressed hope for collaboration among SEAMEO BIOTROP, Governing Board, Mindanao State University, and other SEAMEO Centers to conduct this study in Indonesia and ASEAN countries.

Prof. Abdullah expressed his interest in implementing this research in Malaysia through the competition of photography, which would be included in the education system to emphasize the importance of biodiversity. Additionally, he suggested socializing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to raise awareness among students.

Dr Evelyn V. Bigcas suggested an official invitation to partners to collaborate and participate in this project, highlighting the importance of involving stakeholders in this study.

Dr Supriyanto as the moderator conclude the meeting with high expectations that the study's findings could contribute to policy recommendations for the inclusion of biodiversity education in ASEAN high school and vocational students' curricula. (rr, hcn)

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