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Early Childhood Education for Sustainable Development in China

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International Research on Education for Sustainable Development in Early Childhood

Abstract

This chapter provides a review of the historical successes and the current challenges for education for sustainable development in early childhood in China. Specific references are made to progress being made with regard to environmental education, gender education, and intercultural education. The chapter also reports on the outcome of research trials carried out using the Environmental Rating Scale for Sustainable Development in Early Childhood (ERS-SDEC) instrument that was developed by the authors in collaboration with international colleagues in the World Organization for Early Childhood Education (OMEP).

Environmental education has a long history in China, but few teachers in early childhood at this time consider the importance of social and cultural equality and social justice to sustainability. Similarly, economic sustainability is commonly understood only in relation to environmental protection. The ERS-SDEC was found to offer a useful tool for self-assessment and in stimulating discussion about ESD in early childhood education.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eastern China Normal University, Shanghai, China

    Xin Zhou, Zhanlan Liu, Chunhong Han & Guangheng Wang

Authors
  1. Xin Zhou
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  2. Zhanlan Liu
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  3. Chunhong Han
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  4. Guangheng Wang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xin Zhou .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Education, University of Plymouth Institute of Education, Plymouth, United Kingdom

    John Siraj-Blatchford

  2. Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Southern Illinois University Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Carbondale, Illinois, USA

    Cathy Mogharreban

  3. Department of Early Childhood Education , Seoul, Korea (Republic of)

    Eunhye Park

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Zhou, X., Liu, Z., Han, C., Wang, G. (2016). Early Childhood Education for Sustainable Development in China. In: Siraj-Blatchford, J., Mogharreban, C., Park, E. (eds) International Research on Education for Sustainable Development in Early Childhood. International Perspectives on Early Childhood Education and Development, vol 14. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42208-4_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42208-4_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-42206-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-42208-4

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