United Nations SDGs

In Malaysia, the alignment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and national development involves the integration of a number of action plans. At present the country is working on SDGs through the Twelfth Malaysia Plan (12MP) 2021-2025 that aims to address current issues of national interest and at the same time to restart and rejuvenate Malaysia’s socioeconomic development for long-term sustainability and prosperity. The proposed research aligns with several SDGs including Quality Education (SDG 4), Climate Action (SDG 13), Life on Land (SDG 15), Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10).

In the Twelfth Plan, a strong emphasis has been placed on strengthening education programmes for indigenous communities by providing quality education. This research emphasises relevant curriculum development for indigenous communities, therefore supporting Malaysia's goals in bridging educational disparities and fostering inclusivity. This initiative aligns well with the broader framework of SDG 4, which advocates for inclusive and quality education for all.

Between 2021 and 2025, Malaysia aims to address the issues of climate change, unsustainable consumption and production practices, loss of biodiversity, lack of coherence in the implementation of policies and inefficient water resources management. In the Twelfth Plan, green growth will be augmented to achieve sustainability and resilience. The research aims to create a climate change curriculum to foster awareness and understanding among the younger generation regarding climate change, aligning well with the themes of the Twelfth Plan. This further maps onto SDG 13, Climate Action, which emphasises urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

The project aligns with SDG 15: Life on Land, by promoting sustainable ecosystem management through climate change education and the integration of traditional ecological knowledge from indigenous communities. This approach supports biodiversity conservation, sustainable land and resource management practices, and fosters inclusive participation in addressing challenges like land degradation and biodiversity loss, contributing towards the broader objectives of the Twelfth Plan, advancing green growth for sustainability and resilience.

This participatory project engages closely with a variety of stakeholders, including children, teachers, parents, local communities, curriculum designers, policymakers and representatives of non-profit organisations. The chosen methodological approach aligns seamlessly with SDG 17, Partnerships for the Goals, which emphasises the importance of collaborative efforts to tackle the world’s most pressing issues such as climate change and the inequalities faced by indigenous communities. In the Twelfth Plan, this is referred to as the ‘whole-of-nation’ approach, which encourages more engagement sessions and smart partnership programmes to ensure inclusive participation and promote better networking.

In the Twelfth Plan, a significant focus is also given to transforming the approach used to eradicate hardcore poverty and to reduce inequalities faced by the Bumiputera (indigenous people who are granted special rights under the Constitution). The research specifically seeks to work with indigenous communities, known to be among the poorest groups in Malaysia. By emphasising the education of children, the project aims to underline the importance and relevance of education in reducing inequalities. This aligns well with SDG 10, Reduced Inequalities, which aims to ensure the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, economic or other status.