Ocean literacy
is about understanding human influence on the ocean and the ocean’s influence
on humans. 35 countries have committed to piloting the Toolkit “Ocean Literacy
for All” (available in English, Spanish and French),
developed by the
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. The toolkit
contains resources, effective practices, lessons, and activities that can be
used by educators in formal and non-formal education contexts to support the
implementation of marine education initiatives.
The toolkit provides
learners with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to understand ocean
processes and related impacts and it sheds light on the role of personal and
collective behaviors in creating and resolving marine environmental issues,
ultimately leading to a shift in values to promote marine pro-environmental actions.
In the perspective of the upcoming United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for
Sustainable Development (2021-2030), the feedback from schools will provide
essential guidance to UNESCO for a possible revision of the toolkit or the
development of new additional teaching materials.