Sustainability Awareness Profile of Students through Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Integration in Science Learning on the Topic of Environmental Issues Among Secondary Schools

Abstract

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is crucial for pillars of human development: social, economic, and environmental preservation. It's a global responsibility transcending national boundaries especially in Indonesia, requiring collective action to ensure a sustainable future generation. The primary objectives are to delineate and categorize sustainability awareness profiles, focusing on emotional, behavioral, and practical dimensions, while also exploring gender-based differentials and grade levels. This study employs a descriptive research method, utilizing a Guttman scale questionnaire. The target samples consist of 87 secondary school students in one junior high school in Bandung, with the aim of gaining a comprehensive understanding of sustainability awareness. The results indicate commendable overall sustainability awareness, with behavioral and attitude awareness leading at 95.2%, followed by emotional awareness at 85.5%. However, practice awareness lags behind at 56.3%, suggesting a potential area for improvement. Interestingly, female students demonstrate higher awareness at 79.8% compared to males at 75.2%, and students in seventh grade demonstrate higher awareness at 81.5% compared to ninth-grade at 76.1%. In conclusion, this study highlights the crucial role of ESD in nurturing sustainability awareness among secondary school students. While commendable awareness levels were noted in emotional, behavioral, and attitude dimensions, a significant gap in practice sustainability awareness remains. Gender and grade-level disparities further emphasize the need for targeted educational interventions to bridge these gaps and ensure equitable participation. By addressing these challenges, educational initiatives can empower young learners to tackle global sustainability issues and pave the way for a more sustainable future generation.