Integrating Sustainable Development into Primary School Education
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55707/ds-po.v41i1.215Keywords:
sustainability, sustainability in education, primary education, curriculaAbstract
Sustainable development, encompassing environmental, social, and economic dimensions, is essential for the future of humanity and must be integrated into education. Although policy documents mandate the inclusion of sustainability-related content, implementation often depends on individual teachers. This study analyses the presence of sustainability content in primary-level curricula and examines how 197 teachers understand and implement it in their teaching practice. Using thematic analysis, we reviewed ten subject curricula and conducted an empirical survey among teachers. Results indicate that sustainability is most frequently addressed in science- and social science-related subjects, while it is less explicit in others. Teachers predominantly interpret sustainability in environmental terms, with social and economic aspects less recognized. Most respondents reported no prior participation in professional development on sustainability education.Based on our findings, we propose the systematic and interdisciplinary integration of sustainability topics across all subject curricula and recommend improving access to relevant professional training for teachers.
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