Federal Cabinet Approves Landmark National Education For Sustainable Development Policy and Action Plan

Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis, December 22, 2025 (UNESCO National Commission) – In winding down
the Federation’s commitments at UNESCO before the Christmas period, Ambassador David Doyle, the St.
Kitts and Nevis special envoy to this specialised UN agency, met with the Ambassador of Japan, on 19 th
December in Paris, to present the country’s plans to integrate Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
into the national curriculum, as part of a UNESCO-led education initiative with Japan.
Over the past two years, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, with the technical support of UNESCO and
funding from the Government of Japan, has successfully implemented a comprehensive Education for
Sustainable Development (ESD) framework and is poised to operationalise the new curriculum from
September 2026.

In a briefing session with Ambassador KANO Takehiro, Permanent Delegate of Japan to UNESCO, the
Federation’s Ambassador David P. Doyle presented the final ESD curriculum plans and expenditure reports,
marking a two-year long country initiative to transform the national education system and strengthen
national capacity to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
Since 2023, the Government of Japan established an ESD Fund in Trust to promote ESD via UNESCO and
selected two small island developing states (SIDS), embracing the Cap Verde, archipelagic state in the
central Atlantic Ocean off the coast of West Africa, and St. Kitts and Nevis, to launch a pilot ESD
curriculum project, with UNESCO-accredited ESD experts providing guidance throughout the exercise.
Backed by comprehensive analytical reports prepared by the St. Kitts and Nevis ESD project lead, Dr. Tricia
Esdaille. Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Education, Ambassador Doyle enumerated the overarching
objectives:

Goal 1: Strengthen Policy Integration and Governance: To establish a national ESD policy framework
and governance system that integrates sustainability principles into all levels of education. The initiative
aligns with UNESCO’s priority action areas and supports transformative, holistic, and lifelong learning.

Goal 2: Enhance Curriculum Content and Pedagogy: To integrate ESD concepts into curriculum and
instructional practice, ensuring a coherent progression of sustainability-related competencies for all learners.
This includes developing environmental, economic, and social sustainability learning outcomes.

Goal 3: Build Educator Capacity: To provide systematic training for educators, ensuring they have the
knowledge, skills, values, and pedagogical tools to deliver high-quality ESD and foster global citizenship,
critical thinking, and problem-solving competencies.

Goal 4: Strengthen System Infrastructure for Sustainability Education: To establish institutional and
technological capacity—including EMIS integration—to support continuous teacher training, monitoring,
and long-term implementation of ESD.

Goal 5: Engage Youth, Schools, and Communities: To encourage active participation by students,
schools, and communities through whole-school approaches, project-based learning, and partnerships for
sustainable development.

In response, Ambassador Kano of Japan praised the assertiveness and professionalism demonstrated by the
ESD Team at the St. Kitts and Nevis Ministry of Education led by Dr. Esdaille, in completing the integration
of the ESD into the national curriculum, within the scheduled timeframe and budget.
Reacting to the favourable comments of the Japanese envoy to UNESCO, Dr. Esdaille commented: “This
ESD initiative responds to the unique vulnerabilities and development priorities of Small Island Developing
States and establishes a coherent national approach to integrating sustainability into policies, curriculum,
teaching, school culture, and community engagement. This work contributes directly to the country’s stated
commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly SDG 4.7. “
“On 27 October 2025, the Cabinet of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis officially approved the National
ESD Policy and the National ESD Strategy and Action Plan, signalling high-level commitment to embedding
sustainability across the education system.”
In expressing the deep appreciation of the Government of Japan’s support on behalf of Dr. Geoffrey Hanley,
Minister of Education, Ambassador Doyle stated:

“This important ESD project was made possible thanks to the generous funding offered by the Japanese
authorities, which enabled St. Kitts and Nevis to access highly technical and strategic expertise provided by
UNESCO in ESD Policy development. It underpins the increasing adoption by St. Kitts and Nevis’
Permanent Delegation in Paris and the Federation’s National Commission for UNESCO in Basseterre, of a
partnership model comprising UNESCO and education policy-experienced Member States. I commend Dr
Esdaille for her relentless collaboration with us on this ESD project”

HE. Nerys Dockery, Secretary-General of the St. Kitts and Nevis National Commission stated: “This is a
landmark achievement for St. Kitts and Nevis. The approval of the National Education for Sustainable
Development policy, strategy, and action plan marks a pivotal moment in our nation’s journey towards a
resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future. This visionary policy, supported by UNESCO and the
Government of Japan, empowers us to nurture eco-conscious citizens, drive innovation, and build a greener
tomorrow. Highest commendations to the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Minister of Education
for championing education as the cornerstone of sustainable development.”