UNESCO Associated Schools Network
The UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet) unites students, teachers and educational institutions across the world around a common goal: “to build peaceful and sustainable societies in the minds of children and young people”. The aim of the worldwide UNESCO Associated Schools Network is to promote intercultural dialogue, peace, sustainable development, and quality education in a world of increased complexity and interdependence. ASPnet members support UNESCO’s mission and translate its global goals into teaching, learning and action.
The UNESCO Associated Schools Network is the world’s largest school network which consists of 11 700 educational institutions, from preschool education to teacher training schools in 182 countries.
The network was established in 1953 and Ghana has been a member since 1967. The Ghanaian network consists of approximately 60 learning institutions, ranging from kindergartens to Junior High Schools. UNESCO’s ideals and values can be seen in the pedagogical approaches and operational culture of the member institutions.
Network policies
UNESCO Associated Schools promote the values and principles of the Constitution of UNESCO and the Charter of the United Nations:
- ASPnet contributes to the achievement of Agenda 2030 goals
- All ASPnet members carry out UNESCO’s strategies and programs regarding education, science, culture and communication
- The member schools implement the ASPnet strategy 2014-2021
ASPnet schools develop, test and share innovative educational materials, new teaching and learning approaches based on UNESCO’s core values. ASPnet member schools utilise UNESCO’s teaching materials and exchange ideas and best practices among the ASPnet community.
The UNESCO Associated Schools network provides means to deal with and address current and global questions together with the students. The aim is to increase students’ understanding about the complexity and interconnectedness of the world.
ASPnet strategy for 2014-2021
The main themes for the ASPnet strategy period 2014-2021 are Global Citizenship Education (GCED) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). The ASPnet strategy is based on UNESCO’s Strategy 2014–2021 and supports the strategy’s goal to empower learners to become creative and responsible global citizens.
Objectives of ASPnet strategy for 2014–2021:
- To integrate GCED and ESD into ASPnet school’s curricula
- To experiment innovative approaches on GCED and ESD in ASPnet schools
- To strengthen the sharing of experiences and best practices among ASPnet schools
Global Citizenship Education aims to empower learners of all ages, to become active promoters of more peaceful, tolerant and sustainable societies, both locally and globally. It encourages students to understand the interdependencies between nations and to recognise that problems such as human rights violations, climate change, inequalities and poverty are global problems that should be solved from a global perspective.
Education for Sustainable Development aims to promote the development of knowledge, skills, understanding, values and behaviors that are required to create a more sustainable world. It empowers learners to take informed decisions and responsible actions to ensure environmental protection, promote social equity and encourage economic sustainability. It requires participatory teaching and learning methods that motivate and empower learners to change their behaviour and take action for sustainable development.
ASPnet emphasises the importance of national and international cooperation. Interacting and sharing experiences, knowledge and best practices between ASPnet schools is central in order to widen the impact of their actions.
The member schools implement creative and participatory projects based on UNESCO’s values and objectives. In addition to the local school projects, schools participate in national, regional or international flagship projects and share knowledge and experiences with ASPnet members around the world. In accordance with ASPnet’s whole-school approach, UNESCO’s values and ideals should form a central part of the daily lives and operational culture of the whole school.
- Flagship projects and international cooperation
Regional and international flagship projects form a central part of ASPnet schools’ action. Schools can participate in the projects depending on their location and these projects vary in duration and theme. The current Futures of Education initiative unites ASPnet members around the world to share ideas and reflections on how we should re-imagine education, learning and knowledge in a world of increasing complexity, uncertainty, and fragility. You can learn more about this initiative and share your own ideas and thoughts on the subject on UNESCO’s own Futures of Education website.
- Materials
The international ASPnet produces and publishes materials for the member schools to use. On ASPnet’s own website you can find published materials for the members to use. These include a collection of best practices and initiatives that have been carried out by both ASPnet schools and theirs partner institutions. It is encouraged that schools share their own ideas and practices and participate in the conversation about current topics on the ASPnet schools’ own website.
UNESCO ASPnet schools carry out projects in ASPnet thematic areas such as:
- Global issues and the role of the United Nations
Getting familiar with the role and actions of the UN, helps students to understand the importance of international cooperation and local, national and international aspects of global issues. ASPnet schools have organised activities, such as international days.
- Sustainable development
Promoting UN’s sustainable development goals (Agenda 2030) is one of the central objectives of UNESCO ASPnet schools. The aim is to encourage changes in knowledge, values and attitudes with the vision of enabling a more sustainable and just society for current and future generations.
- Peace and human rights
Human rights, open-mindedness and democracy have been central objectives in ASPnet schools from the very beginning. Human rights education aims to provide learners with knowledge, understanding, and attitudes that encourage all individuals to recognise and stand for their own rights and those of others. Human rights education develops an understanding of everyone’s common responsibility as a global citizen to make human rights a reality. Projects related to human rights can be for example about children’s rights, racism or discrimination.
- Intercultural learning
Intercultural learning emphasises understanding, respect and dialogue between people from different cultures and backgrounds. Pupils are encouraged to be curious towards other cultures and their cultural knowledge and understanding should be supported. This way students understand that cultures are a product of social interaction and students can see their own culture from a new perspective. Culturally diverse classrooms and schools provide favorable conditions to practice this kind of skills. In addition, ASPnet schools have undertaken international projects together with member schools in other countries. You can learn more about these projects on ASPnet’s own website. On the website members can also add their own project or find a partner school for a collaboration.
The Ghanaian network is coordinated by the Ghana Commission for UNESCO together with Ghana Education Service. If you represent an institution interested in becoming a member of the UNESCO Associated Schools Network, you should contact Ghana’s Commission Officer for Education through education@unescoghana.gov.gh or info@unescoghana.gov.gh