A STUDY OF PRO-ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOUR OF TEACHERS AND ITS ROLE IN EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Growing environmental challenges and the fast depletion of natural resources have made sustainable practices a pressing global concern. Education plays an important role in raising environmental awareness and encouraging responsible behaviour among students. Teachers are key players in this effort. Besides teaching through the formal curriculum, teachers influence students through their everyday actions and behaviour, which are part of the hidden curriculum. Therefore, developing environmentally responsible students is closely tied to teachers' pro-environmental behaviour. This study looks at the pro-environmental behaviour of teachers and its role in teaching for sustainability. A descriptive research design was used, along with surveys to gather data from 64 teachers at the primary, secondary, higher secondary, and undergraduate levels. A structured questionnaire was used to assess teachers’ awareness and practices related to environmental sustainability. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, and mean score analysis. The findings show that teachers generally have a positive attitude towards pro-environmental behaviour, indicating a high level of environmental awareness and a willingness to adopt sustainable practices. Teachers from various educational levels and with different years of experience displayed similar pro-environmental values, suggesting that this behaviour is not limited to a specific career stage. The positive pro-environmental behaviour of teachers underscores their ability to influence students’ attitudes and practices regarding environmental responsibility. The study concludes that improving teachers’ pro-environmental behaviour is crucial for effective education for sustainability. By modelling sustainable practices, teachers can significantly contribute to developing environmentally responsible students and fostering a culture of sustainability in schools.