Teaching global values through everyday school activities

Written by Abigail Chifusa, Global Schools Project Officer.

Education plays an important role in helping young people understand the world and their responsibility in it. Around the world, teachers and school leaders are finding ways to connect classroom learning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One of these educators is Muhammad Nadeem Akhtar, a Global Schools Advocate and Principal of Central Model School Khanewal in Pakistan.

After completing the Global Schools Advocate training, Muhammad made a strong decision. He wanted the SDGs to become part of everyday learning in his school, not just ideas discussed in books or lessons.

At Central Model School Khanewal, the SDGs are now being included in school activities and classroom learning. This helps students understand global challenges and also teaches them how they can become responsible global citizens.

One recent activity took place during the holy month of Ramadan. During this time, students focused on important values such as kindness, sharing, and helping others. Muhammad used this opportunity to design a learning activity that connected Ramadan values with the SDGs.

Students were asked to think about values such as kindness, sharing with others, helping the poor, peace and harmony, and cultural understanding. The activity involved 9-year-old students who shared their ideas through drawings and short written reflections.

Through this activity, students were able to connect their ideas to several Sustainable Development Goals. These included SDG 4, which focuses on Quality Education, SDG 10 on Reduced Inequalities, SDG 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals.

The activity helped students understand that the SDGs should not only be global goals discussed by leaders. They are values that can guide how people live and treat others every day.

Muhammad also believes that learning about the SDGs should go beyond one school or one country. As a Global Schools Advocate, he shared the activity and guidance with partner schools in other countries so they could also connect their student activities with the SDGs.

One partner school, EDİRNE MEKTEBİM College in Türkiye, carried out a similar activity with their students after receiving the guidance. 

“It was inspiring to see students from different countries learning the same global values while also understanding each other’s cultures,” Muhammad said.

Another partner school, St. James' C.E. Primary School in the United Kingdom, is also preparing its activity. Once it is completed, Muhammad hopes to share their work with the Global Schools Advocate community.

This work is also a personal commitment for Muhammad. After completing the Global Schools training, he decided that school activities should always connect to SDGs, to help students understand that these are not just global plans, but real values that can guide everyday life.

Muhammad also encourages other educators and Global Schools Advocates around the world to include the SDGs in their school activities and international collaborations, to help raise a new generation of students who are responsible global citizens, peace builders, environmentally aware, and socially responsible.