Project title: inclusion of the elements of sustainable consumption and sustainable development in school curriculum

Principal researcher: dr. Justina Erčulj

Research team: dr. Anita Trnavčevič, dr. Tonči Kuzmanić, mag. Suzana Sedmak

Period: 2006–2008

Project goals

The main aim of the project was to prepare the expertise which would facilitate the inclusion of the elements of sustainable consumption and sustainable development in the Slovene school curriculum. In order to achieve this aim the following goals were attained:

  • Review and analysis of the relevant current literature and trends in the area of sustainable development and education for sustainable development.
  • Review and analysis of the relevant foreign school curricula and of the Slovene school curriculum (for the elementary and grammar school) regarding the inclusion of the sustainable development and sustainable consumption themes and contents.
  • Empirical research amongst Slovene secondary school students and their teachers in order to establish the “presence” of the sustainable development and sustainable consumption themes in teaching and learning processes and the teachers’ perceptions of the inclusion of these themes in the syllabi.
  • Preparation of the list of the sustainability themes (focusing primarily on sustainable consumption), which could be included in the subjects’ syllabi, in the teaching and learning processes of different subjects, and in other school activities. The list of the good practice examples of education for sustainable development was gathered.

Methodology

The analysis of relevant scientific and expert literature of different concepts related to education for sustainable development was combined with an empirical research amongst Slovene secondary school students and their teachers. The research was designed as a survey and the data were collected by means of a self-administered four-page questionnaire. It was completed by 454 final year secondary school students (app. 18 years old) by 111 teachers.

Results

Analysis of the curricula: as it was the case also in some other foreign curricula that we’ve reviewed, we can say that sustainability themes in Slovene syllabi are mostly related to environmental dimensions of sustainable development (ecologic, conservation themes). It can be claimed that sustainable development themes are approached in a more holistic way at the beginning of the elementary school; as pupils and student are progressing from school year to school year, they meet these themes more often within the natural science and technical subjects.

Research amongst students and teachers: the above mentioned findings were in line with the results of the empirical research. Amongst others it was also found out that students are not aware of the complexity of consumer choices and its’ consequences on the economic and social development. Again, the environmental dimension was the most obvious. The research amongst teachers in general showed that they have positive attitude towards inclusion ofsustainable developmentand sustainable consumption themes in their subjects. However, it was established also that sustainable development as well as sustainable consumption are still relatively vague concepts, and this has an influences on the inclusion of these theme in the lessons. It was also found out that many teachers are aware of the complexity of the sustainable development concept as well as of the importance of the in-service teacher education. They expressed their willingness to take part in the education for sustainable development themselves.

Project related publications

  • SEDMAK, Suzana, ERČULJ, Justina. Sustainability and Slovene school curriculum. V: Collaboration on education for sustainable development: the 6th International conference sustainable development, culture and education, June 4-7, 2008, Eskisehir, Turkey: conference proceedings. Eskisehir: AnadoluUniversity, 2008.
  • SEDMAK, Suzana. Education for sustainable consumption in Slovenia. V: O'DONOGHUE, Miriam (ed.). Global sustainable development: a challenge for customer citizens: e-book. Dublin: CDVEC, Curriculum development Unit (CDU); Bonn: International Federation for Home Economics (IFHE), 2008.
  • SEDMAK, Suzana, ERČULJ, Justina. Managing school curriculum towards sustainability – Where to start? Barcelona, november 2008, Fakulteta za management Koper.