THE Ministry of Education, Youth and Information has endorsed the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

In observance of this initiative, dubbed the World’s Largest Lesson, portfolio minister, Senator Ruel Reid, said emphasis is being placed on students thinking about larger global issues such as poverty, climate change and energy, among others.

“We as a country need to see how we can contribute, not only to the development of our country but to the overall sustainable development of the entire world,” the minister said.

Reid was speaking Monday with JIS News following an address to first form students at Campion College in St Andrew to recognise the UNICEF initiative.

He said the issues which are likely to affect other countries are also likely to affect Jamaica, and must therefore be addressed.

“We are not just isolated from the rest of the world. We are indeed affected by what happens globally,” the minister said.

The World’s Largest Lesson consists of 17 goals, coalescing into three objectives, which include ending poverty, fighting inequality and injustice, and addressing climate change.

UNICEF hopes to achieve these objectives within the next 15 years. They encourage schools around the world to teach a lesson or assemble to introduce or remind students of the Global Goals and get them to think about how they can help in achieving those goals.

Quality education specialist with UNICEF, Dr Rebecca Tortello Greenland, said educating the students on the goals and objectives of the World’s Largest Lesson serves to broaden their understanding of global issues and to guide their approach to problem-solving.