Enhancing Sustainability: Exploring the Knowledge, Actions, and Willingness of Pre-Service Primary School Teachers

Aurora Muñoz-Losa, Jorge Crespo-Martín, Miriam A. Hernández-Barco and Isaac Corbacho-Cuello ()
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Aurora Muñoz-Losa: Facultad de Educación y Psicología, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
Jorge Crespo-Martín: Facultad de Educación y Psicología, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
Miriam A. Hernández-Barco: Facultad de Educación, Universidad de Alcalá, 19001 Guadalajara, Spain
Isaac Corbacho-Cuello: Facultad de Educación y Psicología, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 3, 1-24

Abstract: In this study, the impact is assessed of a sustainability course on pre-service primary school teachers’ knowledge, behavior, and willingness towards sustainability. It aims to determine how this type of education empowers future educators as agents of change towards more sustainable practices in school settings. In this study, a quasi-experimental design is employed with questionnaires administered before and after the sustainability course to 56 pre-service primary school teachers. Robust statistical methods were used to analyze the data for independent and paired samples, as well as Spearman’s correlation to explore associations between cognitive, behavioral, and conative dimensions of sustainability. The results showed significant improvements in cognitive and conative dimensions following the intervention. Students increased their knowledge about sustainability and demonstrated a greater willingness to adopt sustainable behaviors. However, the change in concrete behaviors was less pronounced, suggesting the need for additional strategies to translate knowledge and willingness into effective action. In this study, the impact is highlighted of sustainability education on pre-service teachers, emphasizing the need for its effective integration into teacher training curricula to foster both knowledge acquisition and practical application of sustainable behaviors.

Keywords: education for sustainable development (ESD); pre-service primary school teachers; environmental awareness; sustainable development goals (SDGs); higher education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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