Integrating Environmental Education for Sustainability

Bridging Theory, Practice, and Political Engagement in Tanzanian Secondary Schools

Authors

  • Joel Jonathan Kayombo University of Dar es Salaam https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7478-6884
  • Syed Nitas Iftekhar Kidtopia Children’s Museum, Beijing, China
  • Leatitia Gabriel Mashaza University of Dar es Salaam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7577/njcie.6033

Keywords:

sustainability, ecopedagogy, environmental education, environmental justice

Abstract

This study employs a qualitative inquiry and a phenomenological case study design to critically examine environmental pedagogies within the context of Tanzanian secondary schools. The primary aim is to identify the contextual needs for reorienting education towards environmental justice through the lens of ecopedagogy. Specifically, the research explores three key aspects: stakeholders’ perceptions of the human-environment relationship, the integration of environmental education into school curricula, and stakeholders' recommendations for enhancing environmental education in secondary schools. Guided by the Ecopedagogical Pyramid Framework, the study informs both data collection and the interpretation of findings. The study highlights the importance of environmental education in Tanzania, highlighting the need for a multidisciplinary approach to teach students about environmental issues. It calls for a balance between theory and practice, focusing on practical, action-oriented approaches. The Ecopedagogical Pyramid Framework, which advocates for a balance between theory and practice, can help foster environmental competencies in secondary school students. The study also emphasizes the role of media in shaping environmental consciousness but also calls for more government resources and teacher training to ensure effective environmental education.

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AI generated illustration of a classroom with environmental education in Tanzania

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Published

2025-04-01

How to Cite

Kayombo, J. J., Iftekhar, S. N., & Mashaza, L. G. (2025). Integrating Environmental Education for Sustainability: Bridging Theory, Practice, and Political Engagement in Tanzanian Secondary Schools. Nordic Journal of Comparative and International Education (NJCIE), 9(2). https://doi.org/10.7577/njcie.6033