News

31 October 2023

Six among 24 exemplary lesson plans from 10 regional countries are to be supported with grants for piloting at schools in the months ahead.

Six schools in Asia-Pacific will receive grants from UNESCO to pilot their exemplary lesson plans employing living heritage in this year's UNESCO Asia-Pacific Living Heritage Lesson Plan Contest. The regional expert’s panel for living heritage and education deliberated in October 2023, reviewing a total of 146 entries from 96 schools in 23 countries.

In addition, a total of 18 lesson plans from 10 countries – Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, The Philippines, Singapore and Viet Nam – will receive Commendation Certificates to praise their innovative efforts. UNESCO also acknowledges, with appreciation, compelling submissions from Afghanistan, Cambodia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao PDR, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Uzbekistan. The vast geographical span of schools submitting their lesson plans to this year’s contest demonstrates today’s mainstreamed interest and growing awareness in the benefits of using local living heritage in enhancing the relevance of education for a new generation.

The complete list of 2023 distinguished lesson plans comprises:

The Living Heritage Advocate Grant

• Heritage in the Hands of Young: Oral Traditions Intangible Cultural Heritage Documentation and Mapping (Subject: History/Grade 10), Gelephu Middle Secondary School, Bhutan

The Pedagogical Innovator Grant

• Conical Hat of Vietnam (Subject: Mathematics and Science/Grade 6–7), Gia Thanh Secondary School, Viet Nam

The Sustainable Development Contributor Grant

• Human in their Environment (Subject: Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person/Grade 12), Malinta National High School, The Philippines
• Intangible Cultural Heritage Elements that Unify two Koreas (Subject: Korean Language, Social Studies, P.E., Arts, Practical Art/Grade 6), Yiseo Elementary School, Republic of Korea

The Special Expert Grant

• Formulating a Community Action Plan (Subject: Community Engagement, Solidarity and Citizenship/Grade 12), Parañaque National High School-Main, The Philippines
• Protecting the Environment in the Community (Subject: Science/Grade 8), Azpetia National High School, The Philippines

Each of the six schools that will receive the grant of US$1,000 will be tasked to actualize the lesson plans in classrooms and produce a short video clip on the process and lesson learned for UNESCO to showcase on its website and social media. Additionally, by December 2023, all 25 lesson plans will be accessible by schools and teachers across the world on UNESCO’s global clearinghouse on Living Heritage and Education, at: https://ich.unesco.org/en/clearinghouse-education.

Commendation Certificates Awarded

In addition to the six winners of grants, 18 distinguished lesson plans have been acknowledged with Commendation Certificates by multinational education and culture experts in this year’s contest:

• Saykha Offering (Subject: English), Tsirangtoe Central School, Bhutan
• Setting Up a Herbarium, Learning about Medicinal Herbs and their Cultural and Traditional Uses in the Community (Subject: Science/Grades 7–9), Zilukha Middle Secondary School, Bhutan
• Shamanistic Worship and Propitiation to the Spirits (Subject: Bhutan History and Civics and Citizenship Education/Grade 8), Bajothang Higher Secondary School, Bhutan
• Beauty of Intangible Cultural Heritage (Subject: Foundations of College Art Education/ Freshman Year), Anhui Medical University, China
• The Folk Custom of Building the Peace Kiln for the Mid-Autumn Festival in Jingdezhen (Subject: Mathematics/Grade 7), Jingdezhen No.13 Secondary School, China
• When Xiabu Meets Batik (Subject: Art/Grade 5–6), ChongQing Shuren Primary School, China
• Agricultural Practices (Subject: Biology/Grade 8), Paramita Heritage School, India
• Living Heritage – Quilting in the Kalbelia Community of Rajasthan (Subject: Social Science/Grade 9), St. Stephen's Senior Secondary School, India
• My City: Varanasi (Subject: Environmental Studies/Grade 2), Sunbeam School Lahartara, India
• Bringing Back the Javanese Saka Calendar through Ethnomathematics (Subject: Mathematics/Grade 7–12), Binus School Bekasi, Indonesia
• Song, Play, and Dance (Subject: Interdisciplinary for Indonesian Language, Balinese Culture, Music and Physical Education/Grade 3), Green School Bali, Indonesia
• Teaching Sound Wave with Sundanese Traditional Instruments (Subject: Physics/Grade 8), Binus School Bekasi, Indonesia
• Wau – The Malays Traditional Kite: Introduction, Wau Bulan Appreciation, Wau Making and Flying Workshop and Wau Corner (Subject: Traditional Games/Grades 4–5), SMU (A) Tarbiah Islamiah (SABK), Malaysia
• Himalayan Aromatic Incense-Making and Meditation Workshop (Subject: Economics and Social Studies/ Grades 8–9, 11–12), Pragati Pathshala, Nepal
• Influence of Biodiversity on the Stability of Ecosystems (Subject: Science/Grade 10), Philippine Normal University Mindanao, The Philippines
• Understanding the Nature of Religion: From the Perspective of the Tripeople (Christians, Muslims, & Lumads) of Kidapawan City, North Cotabato (Subject: Humanities and Social Sciences/Grade 12), Kidapawan City National High School, The Philippines
• Bongsan Talchum that Helps the Community Become More Sustainable (Subject: Korean Language and Literature, Social Studies, P.E., Arts/Grade 6), Kimje Buk Elementary School, Republic of Korea
• Exploring Community Gardens – How and why are they so precious to humans? (Subject: Geography/Grade 9), Admiralty Secondary School, Singapore

Background

The UNESCO Asia-Pacific Living Heritage Lesson Plan Contest is supported by the International Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in Asia-Pacific Region (ICHCAP), and the Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU). This strategic partnership aims to expand the regional impact of bringing living heritage into the classroom in both formal and nonformal education arenas.

Integrating living heritage into school teaching and learning not only enriches education but also adds vibrancy to the experiences of both students and teachers. This approach contributes significantly to preserving this heritage for current and future generations, ensuring its continuity and relevance. Moreover, the post-pandemic era has underscored the vital role that living heritage plays in safeguarding the well-being and resilience of communities. It offers a sense of identity, connection, and comfort during challenging times, reminding us of the importance of celebrating and preserving the traditions and practices that bind us together and sustain our collective spirit.

Outstanding lesson plans are recognized for their exemplary adherence to various conservation criteria, including the judicious use of pedagogical methods that effectively engage students, a strong connection with local communities, seamless integration of living heritage elements into the teaching and learning process, and a notable contribution to improving the sustainability of not only the immediate environment but also the broader community and beyond. These accolades highlight the value of educational initiatives that not only impart knowledge but also foster a profound appreciation for cultural heritage and environmental stewardship, ultimately shaping a more sustainable and culturally enriched future.

For further information about the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Living Heritage Lesson Plan Contest and related projects, 

visit: https://bangkok.unesco.org/theme/intangible-cultural-heritage

and https://www.unesco.org/en/fieldoffice/bangkok/clt/intangible-cultural-heritage.

https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/asia-pacific-living-heritage-lesson-plan-contest-announcement-winners?hub=701