ETBI Sustainable Development Goals Programme

The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice. The 17 Goals are all interconnected, and in order to leave no one behind, it is important that we achieve them all by 2030.

Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) launched TAKE 1, it's Programme of Education to embed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Junior Cycle Curriculum in 2019. The TAKE 1 Programme commenced with a training seminar for both teachers and school management to assist ETB schools to equip students with the necessary understanding of all SDGs and to take informed action. Since 2019, Abbey Community College have supported ETBI's Sustainable Development Goals journey and engaged in the all of the associated initiatives.

December 2024 was our sixth consecutive year to take part in ETBI Take 1 Week. Again, staff and students engaged in lessons whereby the sustainable development goals were promoted.

In November 2023, our annual promotion of the Sustainable Development Goals took place during ETBI Take 1 Week .

In 2022, Abbey Community College once again took part in Take 1 Week collectively promoting what we already do in our classes to highlight a sustainable future for us all. We also took part in the May Day for Sustainability and officially launched our wellbeing garden / outdoor classroom environment.

Read about Abbey Community College's involvement with the Sustainable Development Goals programme in The Education Yearbook 2022

In 2021, the student council facilitated a whole-school wellbeing information session focusing on UNESCO International Day Against Violence and Bullying in School, including Cyberbullying. This initiative linked directly to the Junior Cycle Wellbeing Indicators: Respected; Responsible; Resilient; Aware and Connected. It also highlights the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 Good Health and Wellbeing; SDG4 Quality Education; SDG 5 Gender Equality and SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities.

Take 1 Week 2021 took place in December 2021. Abbey Community College teachers took part by referencing and linking their class content to one of the Sustainable Development Goals.

In 2021, for May Day for Sustainability we highlighted the power of SDG 17: Partnership for Goals and SDG 4: Quality Education when all of Kilkenny Carlow ETB came together for KCETB’s Ethos Showcase. As an individual school, Abbey Community College raised awareness of our own school’s ethos and our rich history in line with ETBI’s Core Values. As a collective of schools, we strengthened our partnership by working together and promoting inclusive and equitable education for all.

Abbey Community College’s Global Citizenship Group continued our SDG journey outside of the classroom. Their podcast Student Insights, available on Spotify, explored global issues through interviews, chats and discussions amongst our students, staff, experts and special guests. They believe that All Voices Matter and use the motto Your Best Self, Our Best World.

Take 1 Week 2020 took place on November 23^rd2020 in conjunction with One World Week run by NYCI. Abbey Community College chose to engage with Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

One of the first school-based activities of the TAKE 1 Programme saw ETB teachers showcase current and new engagement with the SDGs in their classrooms during One World Week (December 1st – 8th, 2019). Teaching 1 lesson, about 1 SDG, to 1 Class Group over the course of 1 week, this awareness raising event demonstrated the breadth of impact across all subject areas. The importance and interconnected nature of each of the 17 SDGs supports the Framework for Junior Cycle, which provides the basis for post-primary schools to plan quality, inclusive and relevant education programmes.In 2019, Abbey Community College chose to engage with Sustainable Development Goal 8: To promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

To read more about Abbey Community College's engagement with this programme, see ETBI Journal of Education Volume 2 Issue 1 – Teaching and Learning about the Sustainable Development Goals

ETBI Sustainable Development Goals Programme