Attitudes and sustainable behaviour among Slovenian pre-service teachers who will teach home economics : a case study

Abstract

Sustainable development is a key educational goal, particularly in disciplines that integrate practical life skills, such as Home Economics. This study examined pre-service teachers enrolled in Home Economics and Primary Education programmes at the Faculty of Education, University of Ljubljana, focusing on the perceived role of environmental education and environmental awareness among students and staff within a larger framework of sustainability. Data were collected through an online questionnaire completed by 97 pre-service teachers. The results showed relatively frequent engagement in routine sustainable behaviours, such as waste separation, saving paper towels and reducing food waste; while more resource-dependent behaviours, such as using public transport, were less consistently practised. Participants perceived environmental education as similarly influential on both their attitudes towards sustainable development and their own sustainable behaviour. In addition, faculty staff were perceived as more environmentally aware than students. The findings highlight the importance of strengthening environmental awareness during teacher education, as it supports the development of attitudes and behaviours relevant to sustainabilityoriented Home Economics education. However, the findings should be interpreted with caution due to the use of a non-probability sample from a single institution and self-report measures.