Sustainable Development and Teacher Training
Jair Ruiz Flores is a teacher at the 'Normal School OFL', in Mexico.
Many issues arise throughout the world as a result of different
climate conditions. The excessive heat, the lack of w ter, the
overflow of waste materials and the weak local economy of
the inhabitants of Chiautla de Tapia, Puebla, Mexico. Professor
Luis Casarrubias Ibarra urges that, “actions that lead to a
guarantee of care for the environment,” are taken.
The Normal School is located in the south of the state of Puebla,
Mexico. The climate is dry and warm which makes staying inside
the classrooms unpleasant. Teachers and students therefore,
have participated in management projects and secured
an air conditioning system in all classrooms. This system
led to excessive consumption of electricity and a huge and
unsustainable expenditure for the institution. Currently, through
the management of projects with state and federal educational
authorities, resources have been obtained to acquire solar
cells, which replace the consumption of electric energy with
solar energy and have reduced spending by 95%. Likewise, a
rainwater collection system has been generated. Rainfall is now
stored in tanks that supply the needs of the institution, such as
water services to toilets, plant maintenance and cleaning.
The use of paper for different academic and administrative
activities has been minimized and it was decided to digitalise
existing paper records.
Disposable plates, spoons, glasses, straws, bags etc have been
replaced with reusable materials for food consumption in the
school.
All of the initiatives outlined are intended to generate
reflection on the part of the students (trainee teachers) to
care for the environment and to maximise social welfare.
Garbage collection, campaigns and recycling deposits
are being realised as a result of courses in the primary
education degree curriculum. This includes the projects
offered by the National Union of Education Workers (SNTE),
and in particular the initiatives of teachers in training.
As trainee teachers attending Normal School, come from
different areas, consciousness of the need to promote
sustainability is spreading and consequently so too is its
development.
Our Normal School is the first in Mexico that has the solar
cell system and is committed to taking care of the economy
and the environment. We know that much more needs
to be done. Lack of understanding, alongside the supply
of necessary resources, needs to be addressed to ensure
sustainable development impacts meaningfully on all
our lives.
The teachers in training throughout the country are the
army that can take programmes and projects of sustainable
development to the farthest corners. The joy, initiative and
enthusiasm of today’s young teachers working together means
that in the not too distant future they will undoubtedly stand
alongside future generations, coordinating campaigns that will
help to care for and sustain our planet.
From Engage issue 20.
JAIR RUIZ FLORES • November 3, 2021
Mike Fleetham of Thinking Classroom has written a book " Headlines: Inspiration, humour and advice for school leaders ". A collection of original ideas, advice from professionals, quotes, and tips to support and inspire all leaders. Perfect for new and established leaders working in education, especially headteachers. "Being a headteacher is like looking both ways before you cross the road, and then getting hit by an aeroplane." To Enter the Competition To win a copy of Headlines please share your inspiring education or life lesson in no more than 600 words. The winning article will also be published in our next edition of Engage. Send your words of inspiration to admin@stevesinnottfoundation.org.uk 📅 Deadline: 5th September 2025 Stuck on Ideas? Here are some questions and prompts to get you started! What’s the one lesson school didn’t teach you, but life did? Think of a moment that changed your path, what happened? What piece of advice has helped you grow the most? When did a challenge turn into an opportunity for you? What story from your life would inspire someone on the other side of the world? What’s the life lesson that unlocked your next chapter? Your words could uplift, empower and be seen by many. Let your story inspire the world! 🌍💡 Good luck and we cant wait to read all the entries!
This week our CEO Ann and Jude (SSF Ambassador) visited schools in Coventry and heard about the wonderful work that students are doing to foster peace and community connection, as part of Coventry Arts Week. We visited Lyng Hall school in the morning and met with Ms Hagan and four of the schools UNESCO ASPnet ambassadors. They told us all about their recent project. The students took their art and poetry to the 80th Anniversary symposium in Ypres and Dunkirk. They shared with us some of the poetry they had written together with the students on the field trip and some of their own poems too. They also shared their future plans for working with their local primary school on peace and community. We also had the privilege of joining Ms Hagans class where they were looking at Caliban’s tale. Here is one of the students work
For my birthday this year I had the honour to walk 60 miles (yes it was a big 0 birthday) over 3 days to support the essential work of the Steve Sinnott Foundation of which I am CEO. Education in its many forms is essential for all of us to thrive and make the most of life's opportunities. The Foundation works to ensure that as many children and adults as possible across the globe can access the human right of education. The plan was to walk with friends and supporters who I hoped would keep me smiling along the way and it felt like a good way to make use of the Foundation’s “Get Moving” campaign. Here's how my Get Moving Fundraiser went on the first day. The 13th June I started my walk in London by walking from Barnet to west Hampstead and visiting my sister at her shop at Tree of Life where I got served a nice iced coffee to keep me going.
