Vocational schools integrate climate change and health education to improve community resiliency

Havea, P. H., Siga, A. ., Rabuatoka, T. ., Tamani, A. T., Devi, P. ., Senikula, R. ., … Combes, H. J. des. (2020). Using vocational education to support development solutions in the Pacific: An emphasis on climate change and health. Applied Environmental Education & Communication, 19, 171-186.

Scientists often talk about the dramatic future impacts of climate change if we do not take significant steps to mitigate its effects. However, it is becoming more and more clear that the negative health impacts of climate change affect many people today. To address this, many environmental educators are working to connect climate change, health, and education in curricula. One place where this has occurred is in the vocational education field, specifically with the European Union Pacific Technical Vocational Education (PacTVET) project. This project includes 15 Pacific Island Countries and takes into account both the health impacts of climate change and the direct results of natural disasters brought on by climate change. In conducting this study, the researchers hoped to fill in gaps in knowledge about Technical Vocational Education (TVET), climate change, and health in Pacific Island countries to increase their resilience. The researchers also aimed to explain how vocational education could support development solutions, specifically pertaining to climate change and health.

This study used mixed methods to collect the data. Researchers collected quantitative data from all of the Pacific Island countries involved. Quantitative data included student enrollment numbers, an in-depth survey for youth in the community about their preferences of subject in the TVET program, and a project expenditure that focused on the health and climate change issues in the program. The researchers also collected qualitative data in the form of interviews with project staff and stakeholders, and various information gathered when analyzing how climate change and health was infused into the TVET curriculum. To analyze the data, the researchers applied an explanatory design model. It aimed to study climate change, TVET, and health; first quantitative data was analyzed and then that was explored with the qualitative data.

Overall, the researchers found that in the Pacific Island countries involved in this study, the PacTVET program has successfully integrated climate change and health into TVET. People in the region have realized the direct links between human health, climate change, and natural disasters. Such as, people in this region are able to acknowledge that their health has been negatively impacted by climate change and disasters. Some of the countries are moving faster than others in terms of accredited-based qualifications. Overall, results showed that vocational education played an important role in sustainable development solutions, such that it promoted resiliency of the people in the region. For example, these programs produced much needed specifically skilled workers, such as people trained to conduct vulnerability assessments of health systems and produce resiliency plans or those who provide education on climate change and health. These professions also provide improve the livelihoods of the workers by giving them a living wage.

This study had limitations. It only took place with 15 small Pacific Island countries, so the results may be hard to generalize to other parts of the world. Additionally, there has been very little research done on integrating climate change and health into vocational studies, so more research should be done before making larger conclusions beyond this study.

The researchers recommend that more vocational schools adopt climate change and health into their curricula, and in primary, secondary and university education. They also recommend providing more training on health resilience certificates. The researchers believe that more widespread climate change and health education will increase resiliency of countries that are currently impacted by climate change.

The Bottom Line

<p>Many environmental educators are working to connect climate change, health, and education in curricula. This study looked at the European Union Pacific Technical Vocational Education (PacTVET) project, which is helping 15 Pacific Island countries to address health implications and natural disaster wrought by climate change. The researchers hoped to fill in gaps in knowledge about Technical Vocational Education (TVET), climate change, and health in Pacific Island countries to increase their resilience. The researchers also studied how vocational education supports development solutions, specifically pertaining to climate change and health. After collecting quantitative and qualitative data, they found that the PacTVET program has successfully integrated climate change and health into TVET, and vocational education can be an important part of sustainable development solutions. They recommend that more vocational schools adopt climate change and health into their curricula.</p>

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