Global Issues that Concern Schools

and Society

Intended Learning Outcomes :

• Discuss at least two global issues in society; and

• Explain the proposed solutions to the social
problem.

The world has become a global village. We have become a citizen of a global
community. What takes place in one part of the globe, no matter how far it affects
us? It is a "small world after all," so goes the song. In this chapter, we will discuss
global issues that affect schools and us. It is hoped that you can propose solutions to
social problems which have become current global issues.

1. Below are the top 10 world issues from two sources. Compare them.
2. You are also given the 17 Sustainable Development Goals 2015-2030. After
comparing the top 10 world issues, match the 17 SDGs with the ten world issues to
determine if these top 10 world issues correspond to the 17 SDGs of 2015-2030.
Use the table for comparison.
 According to millennials, the top 10 world issues are based on World
Economic Forum's Global Shapers Survey in 2017.

1. Climate change/ destruction of nature (48.8%)

2. Large scale conflict / wars (38.9%)
3. inequality (income, discrimination) (30.8%)
4. Poverty (29.2)
5. Religious conflicts (23.9%)
6. Government accountability and transparency/corruption (22.7%)
7. Food and water security (18.2%)
8. Lack of education (15.9%)
9. Safety/ security/ well being { 1 4. I%)
10. Lack of economic opportunity and employment (12. I %)

Source: https://www.inc.com/business-inside/world-top-10-problems-
according-millenials-world-economic-forum-global-shapers-survey-
2017.html.Retrieved 4-9-19

Here are the Top 10 Current Global Issues according to Chloe

Turner (Source: https://borgenproject.org/top-10-current-global-issues)

1. Climate change
2. Pollution
3. Violence
4. Security and Well Being
5. Lack of Education
6. Unemployment
7. Government Corruption
8. Malnourishment & Hunger
9. Substance Abuse
10. Terrorism

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals for the period 2015-2030

1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote
sustainable agriculture.
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at 811 ages
4. Ensure inclusively and equitable quality education promotes lifelong learning
opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic
 growth, full and productive decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable
industrialization and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts (in line with the
United Nations Frameworks Convention on Climate Change)
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for
sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems,
sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land
degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide
access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions
at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for
sustainable development

List #1 Top 10 List # 2 Top 17 SDGs

World Issues 10 World 2015- 2030
Issues
1. Climate change
2. Large-scale
conflict

Analysis - Let's Analyze

1. Are the current global issues in both lists similar?

2. Are the current global issues ranked similarly?
3. Do these top ten global issues correspond to the 17 SDGs 2015-2030?
 Abstraction • Let's Conceptualize

The Top Ten Global Issues and How They Can be Addressed

Climate Change

The global temperatures are rising and are estimated to increase from 2.6
degrees Celsius to 4.8 degrees Celsius by 2100. It would cause more severe
weather, crises with food and resources, and the spread of diseases. Reducing
greenhouse emissions and spreading education on going green can help make a
big difference. Lobbying governments, discussing policies to reduce carbon
emissions, and encouraging reforestation effectively progress with climate
change.

Pollution

Pollution includes ocean litter, pesticides, fertilizers, air, light, and noise
pollution. Clean water is essential for humans and animals. However, more than
one billion people do not have clean water due to pollution from toxic
substances, sewage, or industrial waste.

Violence

Violence can be found in the world's social, cultural, and economic aspects.
Whether it is a conflict that has broken out in a city, hatred targeted at a
particular group of people, or sexual harassment occurring on the street,
violence is a preventable problem that has been an issue for longer than
necessary. Here are various forms of violence:

Table 2. Various Forms of Violence

Various Forms of Violence

Physical Violence Sexual Violence Emotional

Violence

Physical violence Sexual violence Emotional Violence

occurs when occurs when a person occurs when someone
someone uses a part is forced to says or does something
of their body or an participate in sexual that makes a person
object to control a activity unwillingly. feel stupid or
person's actions. worthless.
 Physical violence Sexual Violence Emotional Violence

Physical violence Sexual violence Emotional Violence

occurs when occurs when a person occurs when someone
someone uses a part is forced to says or does something
of their body or an participate in sexual that makes a person
object to control a activity unwillingly. feel stupid or
person's actions. worthless.

Psychological Spiritual Violence Cultural Violence

Violence
Spiritual (or Cultural violence
Psychological religious) violence occurs when an
violence occurs when occurs when individual is harmed
someone uses threats someone uses an due to practices that
and causes fear in an individual's spiritual are part of her or his
individual to gain beliefs to manipulate, culture: religion or
control. dominate or control tradition.
that person.

Source: https:/ /www.hov.nl.ca/VPI/types/

Security and Well Being

The U.N. is a perfect example of what should be done to prevent a serious global
issue's lack of security and well-being. Through its efforts with regional
organizations and representatives skilled in security, the U.N. is working toward
increasing the well-being of people worldwide.

Lack of Education

More than 72 million children throughout the globe that are . of the age to be in
primary education are not enrolled in school. It can be attributed to inequality and
marginalization as well as poverty. Fortunately, many organizations work directly
with the education issue in providing the proper tools and resources to aid schools.
HTTPS: www.humanium.org/en/right-to-education/)

The Philippines has consistently made a significant stride in its functional literacy
rate. As defined by the National Statistics Authority, functional literacy is the level of
literacy that includes reading and writing and numeracy skills that would help people
cope with the daily demands of life. Based on the 2013 Functional Literacy, Education
and Mass Media Survey (FLEMSS), the country registered a 90.3% rate. Nine out of every
10 Filipinos aged 10-64 were functionally literate.
https://www.worldvision.org.ph/stories/improving-functional-literacy-in-the-
Philippines/)
Unemployment

Without the necessary education and skills for employment, many people,
particularly 15- to 24- years old, struggle to find jobs and create a good living for
themselves and their families. It leads to a lack of necessary resources, such as
enough food, clothing, transportation, and proper living conditions. The
unemployment rate in the Philippines inched lower to 5.2 percent in the March
quarter of 2019 from 5.3 percent a year ago. The unemployment rate in the
Philippines averaged 8.34 percent from 1994 until 2019, reaching an all-time high
of 13.90 percent in the first quarter of 2000 and a record low of 4.70 percent in the
fourth quarter of 2016.
https://www.tradingeconomics.com/philippines/unemployment-rate, Retrieved
4-9-19)

Government Corruption

Corruption includes graft, bribery, embezzlement, backdoor deals, nepotism, and

patronage. Corruption is a significant cause of poverty, considering how it affects
the poor, eroding political and economic development, democracy, and more.
Corruption can be detrimental to the safety and well-being of citizens living within
the corrupted vicinity. It can cause an increase in violence and physical threats
without as much regulation in the government. The Philippines ranked 94th out of
177 countries in 'Transparency International's 2013 corruption index. [Source:
Trefor Moss, Wall Street Journal, May 29, 20141

Malnourishment and Hunger

Currently, there are 795 million people who do not have enough to eat. Long-
term success in ending world hunger starts with ending poverty. By fighting
poverty through proper training for employment, education, and the teaching of
cooking and gardening skills, people who are suffering will be more likely to get
jobs, earn enough money to buy food and even learn how to make their food to
save money.

In all its forms, Malnutrition includes undernutrition (wasting, stunting,

underweight), inadequate vitamins or minerals, overweight, obesity, and resulting
diet-related non-communicable diseases. (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-
sheets/detail/malnutrition)

The planet creates more than enough food to meet everyone's needs. However,
there are still millions of hungry people in the world.

Substance Abuse - Substance abuse is "the harmful or hazardous use and illicit
Drugs of psychoactive substances, including alcohol (World Health Organization).
The United Nations reports that, by the beginning of the 21v century, an estimated
185 million people over 15 were consuming drugs globally. The drugs most
commonly used are marijuana, cocaine, alcohol, amphetamine stimulants, opiates,
and volatile solvents. Different classes of people, both poor and rich, partake in
substance abuse, a persistent issue worldwide. However, marginalized groups and
communities are the most vulnerable to this reality in the developing world. The
Philippines faces this massive problem of substance abuse.
(https://issues.tigweb.org/substance)

Terrorism
Terrorism is an issue worldwide that causes fear and insecurity, violence, and
death. Across the globe, terrorists attack innocent people, often without warning. It
makes civilians feel defenseless in their everyday lives; making national security a
higher priority is key in combating terrorism and promoting justice for
wrongdoings to illustrate the enforcement of the law and the serious punishments
for terror crimes. (Source: https://borgenproject.org/top-10-current-global-
issues)

The 17 SDGs
U.N. Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, said: "The seventeen Sustainable
Development Goals are our shared vision of humanity and a social contract
between the world's leaders and the people. They are a to-do list for people and
planet and a blueprint for success."

After the Millennium Development Goals of 2015, here comes another to-do list
for the sake of the entire humanity. Refer to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals,
2015-2030, in the first part of this Chapter.

Global Issues, SDGs 2015-2030 and Education

In September 2015, the General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, including 17 Sustainable Development Goals SDGs).
Building on the principle of leaving no one behind, the new Agenda emphasizes a
holistic approach to achieving sustainable development. The realization of the 17
SD° means solving the top global issues cited by two sources.

These global issues and SDGs 2015-2030 must be intentionally taught in schools
because they are part of the curriculum.
Application: Let’s Apply
1. Based on the top ten global issues and the 17 SDGs, choose one global
issue/SDG and suggest what schools must do to address the issue.

2. What moves has the Philippine government taken to ensure equitable access
to education for all its citizens?

3. Poverty is ranked #4 among the top 10 issues cited by World Economic

Forum's Global Shapers Survey in 2017. Education is supposed to liberate
people from poverty. The Philippines has a comparatively higher literacy rate.
Based on the Literacy Statistics, Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media
Survey (FLEMMS) of 2013, 96.5 percent of Filipinos were literate, improving
from 95.6 percent in 2008. How come the Philippines has one of the highest
numbers of educated people? However, we remain to be "islands of affluence
amidst a sea of poverty," meaning poverty abounds.

Can this be traced to the poor quality of Philippine education? Why or why not?

4. Go over the K to 12 Curriculum Guide. Find out where these global issues and
S
D Global Issue I SDG In what subject and topic can it be
G integrated?
s 1. 1.

a 2. 2.
r
e
integrated. If you find one or more not integrated with the K to 12 Curriculum,
identify integration points in the curriculum.

5. Some blame the Philippines ' corruption problem on merging Filipino

traditions with American institutions. One Filipino political scientist told
Smithsonian magazine, "Americans taught us the idea of honesty and integrity
in civil service but local culture conflicts with the democratic model. With no
tradition of civil service and the prevalence of strong family and community
ties, bribery and nepotism have seeped into the system. (Source:
http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/ Philippines/sub5_6f/entry-
3906.html)
 Do you agree?

TAKEAWAYS

Top global issues today are:

1) large scale conflict/wars/violence/terrorism;
2) inequality (income, discrimination)
3) poverty, unemployment;
4) religious conflicts;
5) graft and corruption;
6) food and water security/malnourishment, hunger;
7) lack of education;
8) safety, security and well-being; and
9) lack of economic opportunity and employment;
10) pollution.

• The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint for achieving a better
and more sustainable future. They address global challenges, including poverty,
inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice.

Let's Check for Understanding

1. List at least five global issues most applicable to the Philippines. Research on
Philippine laws meant to address the problem.

Problem / Issue Philippine Law is meant to Specific Provisions

address the problem. of the Law
Let’s Reflect

Do I contribute to global issues? Am I part of the problem? Can I be part of the

solution?

LET Clinchers
1. Which does not belong to the group?
A. Noise pollution
B. Water pollution
C. Pesticides and Fertilizers
D. Violence

2. Which form of violence occurs when someone uses threats and causes fear in
an individual to gain control?
A. Verbal abuse
B. Psychological violence
C. Cultural violence
D. Emotional violence

3. Which is TRUE of the Philippines?

A. Has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world
B. Has the highest literacy rate in the world
C. Has one of the highest literacy rates in the world
D. Has a lower literacy rate than Cambodia

4. What does SDG 15-30 mean?

A. Sustainable development goals after the MDG of 2015
B. Sustaining and developing Gross National Product
C. Specific Development Goals for all nations
D. Sustaining Development Led by Giant Nations

5. Which applies to Sustainable Development Goals, 2015-2030?

A. Adopted by U.N. member developed nations
B. Adopted by U.N. member developing nations
C. Not related to MDG 2015
D. To-do list for the sake of the entire humanity