A New Blue Curriculum A toolkit for policy-makers

Abstract

This Toolkit aims to support policy-makers, curriculum developers and educational authorities in implementing Ocean Literacy into their national curriculum framework. Ocean Literacy is a tool, a framework and, more broadly, a mindset that forefronts the ocean in all aspects of life on Earth. As an approach for society as a whole, Ocean Literacy catalyzes actions to protect, conserve and sustainably use the ocean. The ocean is intrinsically connected to every part of the globe, to human livelihoods and to sociocultural practices. Understanding the ocean’s influence on us and our influence on the ocean is vital to develop and practice sustainable ways of living together. With the launch of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), this Toolkit builds on the momentum of the global Ocean Literacy movement to support Ocean Decade Outcome 7 – ’An inspiring and engaging ocean’. By synthesizing the latest research and case studies provided by Member States who currently are already promoting ocean literacy, this Toolkit aims to offer orientation on how to ‘blue’ curriculum and guidelines, in line with trends in education. Enhancing the knowledge and capacity of schools, teachers and learners about the ocean furthers society’s understanding of the importance of ocean life and ocean–human interactions. In turn, this knowledge advances the need to preserve and care for ocean resources, and to support better decision-making by society as a whole.