Teacher Education for Sustainability in Pakistan

Abstract

Education plays vital role in sustainable development. Education is permanent modification ofcreativity and behaviour as the result of new experiences through education (Kaushik, 1997). It is not onlya catalyst with potentialities to transform all the aspects of development but contributes in the currentchallenges of sustainability. The aim of education is to ensure and secure the basic purpose of education,to achieve the tasks of life and to attain basic life skills in an integrated and sustainable manner (Azam,2003). According to Singh (2008) “Education is essentially a process of growth and development, whichgoes on throughout the whole life” (p.7). Education for sustainability is less understood and less practicedby teacher educators in Government Colleges of Education offering Associate Degree in education andfour years B.Ed program. It is difficult to assume that whether teacher educators have proper acquaintancewith education for sustainability, skills and willing to incorporate education for sustainability in teachereducation policies and practices. In addition, it cannot be presupposed that through experience teachereducators will attain such skills. Therefore, education for sustainability should be carefully planned andmade as integral part of teacher education programs instead of ad hoc based approach for education forsustainability.This study will investigate how Associate Degree for education teacher training program for prospectiveteachers has been designed or shaped and find out how teacher educators are affianced with educationfor sustainability in their teaching. The purpose of study is (i) to determine the elements of Educationfor sustainability before and after Associate Degree program, (ii) to investigate teacher educatorsknowledge, skills and attitude related to education for sustainability and, (iii) to examine the perceptionand engagement of teacher educators regarding education for sustainability. The focus of this study willbe on five indicators of sustainability which include the social impact of education, education as strategyfor development, financial viability, adaptability and capability to bring socio-economic change. A casestudy approach will be used for this study. Data will be collected through surveys, in-depth interviews andanalysis of over five years documents.