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.
Publication Year：2016
Author：Xin Zhou
