Climate Change Education Through Local Education Programs: A Case Study in Vietnam

Shifting from a purely scientific approach, climate change education now embraces interdisciplinary knowledge with more hands-on pedagogical approaches. Local education, grounded in students’ realities, is a powerful tool for climate change education in Vietnam. Local education program strengthens students’ connections with their community while also serving as a seed for spreading climate change throughout the community. These both help to strengthen community education. Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training implemented the 2018 New General Education Program, mandating the nationwide inclusion of local education programs. Despite this policy shift, a research and practical gap exists regarding the national integration of climate change education and Disaster Risk Reduction Education within Local Education Programs. This chapter contributes to addressing the existing gap by examining climate change education implementation in local education programs across four provinces and cities nationwide. Findings reveal variations in climate change education integration, highlighting areas for improvement. The chapter concludes with recommendations to strengthen climate change education within local education programs, including fostering educator collaboration, diversifying assessment, leveraging community resources, and prioritizing teacher training. These recommendations aim to equip Vietnamese students with the knowledge, skills, and agency to address climate change and contribute to local environmental sustainability.