Origins of the SDG-Centered Curriculum
ISBB's SDG focus began in 2019 when the idea was presented for the school to become more active in contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To do this, teachers revised their syllabi and lesson plans so that they were centered around the UN SDGs, even as they contained the content required by the Philippine basic education curriculum. Science, Math, and Social Studies classes connected their lessons to topics, such as poverty, hunger, inequality, and the need to consume responsibly among others. Teachers from different disciplines also collaborated on shared projects and major assessments, so students could apply what they learned about a particular SDG on an assignment where they needed to demonstrate competence in multiple subject areas. Doing this resulted in students gaining knowledge about the Goals they studied in class, as well as the value of working towards them. Furthermore, the approach taken in the school allowed learners to appreciate how understanding the SDGs cut across traditional academic disciplines.
Youth for Better
An important aspect of the SDG-centered curriculum was the mobilization of students to implement concrete actions that could contribute to the SDGs. During the pandemic, this took the form of webinars and awareness campaigns. More recently, though, students’ SDG campaigns have benefited from being able to visit sites and interact with members of the surrounding community, particularly those in most need. Consequently, among ISBB students’ activities in 2023 are participation in coastal cleanups to support SDG 14 (Life Below Water), produced and donated to public information material to hospitals in support of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), and the provision of water dispensers to underfunded public schools to support SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). Other activities have been implemented, and more are planned
Recognition
Although the inclusion of the SDGs only began in 2020, ISBB has gained some recognition for its efforts. In 2022, its Director of Administrative Affairs was invited by the United Nations to speak at both UNESCO in Paris and in the New York Headquarters during the summit, when world leaders were in attendance. He has also been recognized as a 2022 Awardee for Sustainability Education and Communication Leadership by Sustainable PH.
ISBB has also been fortunate to receive a competitive award for social entrepreneurship education from the BPI Sinag Foundation. Other awards include the school’s inclusion in the Global Schools network, which recognizes educational institutions that have actively worked to contribute to achieve the UN SDGs.