Proceedings of the 7th World Conference on Research in Teaching and Education
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Support from school principals in implementing sustainable education: Examining the case of climate change education
Babalwa Kafu-Quvane, Percival Mavuso and Kayode Olawumi
ABSTRACT:
This paper discusses the role school leaders play in supporting sustainable education in their schools. The focus is on climate change which is another critical aspect of education for sustainable development. The impact of climate change on the environment has become alarming over time and governments across the world have strived to find long-term solutions. Environmental organizations have conducted discussions on several platforms, and conferences have been held to debate solutions to the impact of climate change on the environment. However, the literature suggests that there are inadequate efforts by school leaders to support the implementation of climate change in schools. Most empirical research has focused on the significance and function of school management in the implementation of sustainability and education for sustainable development which includes environmental sustainability in schools with little focus on how school leaders support the implementation of climate change education. The qualitative literature review approach was, therefore, utilized to establish how school leaders support the implementation of climate change education in their schools. This approach entails a thorough reading of articles selected for the paper, analyzing, and sorting them to identify relevant materials. The literature revealed that for schools to be able to implement sustainable education, they need to be led by sustainable leaders who encourage a culture of participation and collaboration. This paper, therefore, recommends that education departments capacitate their school leaders along the lines of sustainable leadership theory.
keywords: School leaders, sustainable education, education for sustainable development, sustainable schools