TEACHER READINESS, SYSTEMIC BARRIERS, AND ADAPTIVE STRATEGIES IN IMPLEMENTING ISLAMIC ECOTHEOLOGY IN ISLAMIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Hamdan Husein Batubara, Nor Hadi, Laura Shintia

Abstract


Although Islamic ecotheology frames environmental stewardship as a religious responsibility, how teachers’ perceived readiness, systemic barriers, and reported adaptations coexist in Islamic elementary schools remains insufficiently understood. This study examined these dimensions using a predominantly quantitative, convergent mixed-methods survey of 200 teachers, purposively recruited through professional networks and voluntary participation, between 25 May and 12 July 2026. The questionnaire included 16 readiness items, 20 barrier indicators, and five open-ended questions; descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis were integrated through an aggregate joint display. Results indicated high perceived readiness (M = 4.15, SD = 0.36; α = .909), with ethics highest (M = 4.40) and lesson planning (M = 3.88) and material development (M = 3.86) comparatively lower. Limited green facilities and consumerist norms were each selected by 69% of respondents, followed by perceived increasing device exposure (63%) and low parental involvement (60%). Reported strategies included communication (63.5%), material reuse (56%), and curriculum integration (53.5%), whereas assessment or reflection was explicitly mentioned by 4%. The findings indicate descriptive coexistence rather than causal associations and suggest priorities for pedagogical support, school resources, and family partnerships; the nonprobability sample does not support national prevalence estimates.

Keywords


Islamic ecotheology; teacher readiness; systemic barriers; adaptive strategies; Islamic elementary schools

Full Text:

PDF

References


Aiken, L. R. (1985). Three coefficients for analyzing the reliability and validity of ratings. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 45(1), 131–142. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013164485451012

Alhinai, M., & Ringer, A. (2025). Amanah and umma: Eco-Islam and epistemological diversity in environmental communication. Frontiers in Communication, 10, Article 1568627. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2025.1568627

Biesta, G., Priestley, M., & Robinson, S. (2015). The role of beliefs in teacher agency. Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice, 21(6), 624–640. https://doi.org/10.1080/13540602.2015.1044325

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development: Experiments by nature and design. Harvard University Press.

Bsoul, L., Omer, A., Kucukalic, L., & Archbold, R. H. (2022). Islam’s perspective on environmental sustainability: A conceptual analysis. Social Sciences, 11(6), Article 228. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci11060228

Casanova, C. R., King, J. A., & Fischer, D. (2023). Exploring the role of intentions and expectations in continuing professional development in sustainability education. Teaching and Teacher Education, 128, Article 104115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2023.104115

Cholil, S., & Parker, L. (2021). Environmental education and eco-theology: Insights from Franciscan schools in Indonesia. Environmental Education Research, 27(12), 1759–1782. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2021.1968349

Corres, A., Ruiz-Mallén, I., & Rieckmann, M. (2024). Educators’ competences, motivations and teaching challenges faced in education for sustainable development: What are the interlinkages? Cogent Education, 11(1), Article 2302408. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2024.2302408

Crespo-Martín, J., Corbacho-Cuello, I., & Muñoz-Losa, A. (2025). Teacher education as an agent for sustainability: Validation of an SDGs-focused knowledge, attitude, and behavior questionnaire for pre-service primary teachers. Sustainable Development, 33(6), 8057–8071. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.70084

Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.

de Sousa, R. T., Thomas Dotta, L., Lopes, A., & Marta, M. (2025). Reclaiming professional agency: Portuguese teachers’ experiences amidst managerialist professionalism. Cambridge Journal of Education, 55(5), 695–715. https://doi.org/10.1080/0305764X.2025.2551535

Dittrich, A.-K. (2024). An international reconstruction of teachers’ and teacher educators’ perspectives on the challenges of education for sustainable development in teacher education. Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, 18(2), 122–141. https://doi.org/10.1177/09734082241309704

Evans, N., Eames, C., Karrow, D., & Field, E. (2026). Climate change education: The shape of curriculum and pedagogy. The Journal of Environmental Education, 57(4), 259–273. https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.2026.2674705

Evans, N., Stevenson, R. B., Lasen, M., Ferreira, J.-A., & Davis, J. (2017). Approaches to embedding sustainability in teacher education: A synthesis of the literature. Teaching and Teacher Education, 63, 405–417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2017.01.013

Fetters, M. D., Curry, L. A., & Creswell, J. W. (2013). Achieving integration in mixed methods designs—Principles and practices. Health Services Research, 48(6 Pt 2), 2134–2156. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.12117

Fischer, D., King, J., & Redman, A. (2025). Rethinking learning assessment in education for sustainable development: A call for action. Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, 19(1), 58–75. https://doi.org/10.1177/09734082251355050

Fischer, D., King, J., Rieckmann, M., Barth, M., Büssing, A., Hemmer, I., & Lindau-Bank, D. (2022). Teacher education for sustainable development: A review of an emerging research field. Journal of Teacher Education, 73(5), 509–524. https://doi.org/10.1177/00224871221105784

Hermanussen, C., & Uda, S. K. (2026). Understanding climate change education practices in Kalimantan through exploratory field research with local voices. Science Education, 110(5), 1497–1515. https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.70072

Holst, J. (2023). Towards coherence on sustainability in education: A systematic review of whole institution approaches. Sustainability Science, 18(2), 1015–1030. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-022-01226-8

Holst, J., Grund, J., & Brock, A. (2024). Whole institution approach: Measurable and highly effective in empowering learners and educators for sustainability. Sustainability Science, 19(4), 1359–1376. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-024-01506-5

Jones, V., & Wenham, L. J. (2025). A longitudinal exploration of the successes and challenges of climate change education in primary schools. Education 3–13. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004279.2025.2586095

Lenziardi, R., Méxas, M. P., Lucas, M., & Sá, P. (2025). Enhancing teacher competences in education for sustainable development (ESD): A value-oriented framework. Journal of Teacher Education for Sustainability, 27(1), 6–32. https://doi.org/10.2478/jtes-2025-0002

Li, Y., & Rahman, M. N. B. A. (2025). Parental involvement in digital learning during elementary school education: A systematic literature review. European Journal of Education, 60(3), Article e70186. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.70186

Morrissey Gleeson, E., & Morrissey, J. (2025). Towards a fit-for-purpose climate change education: A systematic literature review identifying core principles and potential barriers. Environmental Education Research, 31(11), 2292–2345. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2024.2416549

Muhamad, A., Syihab, A. H., & Ibrahim, A. H. (2020). Preserving human–nature’s interaction for sustainability: Quran and Sunnah perspective. Science and Engineering Ethics, 26(2), 1053–1066. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-020-00192-7

Murti, W., Rohman, F., Sapta Sari, M., & Ibrohim, I. (2025). Ecoliteracy competencies: A systematic literature review of domains, approaches, and impacts in education. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 21(8), Article em2677. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/16658

Mustofa, M. L., Zenrif, M. F., & Barizi, A. (2025). Towards an Islamic ecotheology: Indonesian Muslim organizations in climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. Problemy Ekorozwoju, 20(2), 21–31. https://doi.org/10.35784/preko.7089

Portus, R., Aarnio-Linnanvuori, E., Dillon, B., Fahy, F., Gopinath, D., Mansikka-Aho, A., Williams, S.-J., Reilly, K., & McEwen, L. (2024). Exploring the environmental value action gap in education research: A semi-systematic literature review. Environmental Education Research, 30(6), 833–863. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2024.2314060

Poulton, P. (2020). Teacher agency in curriculum reform: The role of assessment in enabling and constraining primary teachers’ agency. Curriculum Perspectives, 40(1), 35–48. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41297-020-00100-w

Priestley, M., Biesta, G., & Robinson, S. (2015). Teacher agency: What is it and why does it matter? In R. Kneyber & J. Evers (Eds.), Flip the system: Changing education from the ground up (pp. 134–148). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315678573-15

Rieckmann, M. (2018). Learning to transform the world: Key competencies in education for sustainable development. In A. Leicht, J. Heiss, & W. J. Byun (Eds.), Issues and trends in education for sustainable development (pp. 39–59). UNESCO. https://doi.org/10.54675/YELO2332

Rudd, J. A., O’Connor, S. R., & Lublin, G. (2026). Empowering teachers and fostering pupil climate action in Welsh primary schools. The Curriculum Journal, 37(3), 656–675. https://doi.org/10.1002/curj.70025

Rushton, E. A. C., & Bird, A. (2024). Space as a lens for teacher agency: A case study of three beginning teachers in England, UK. The Curriculum Journal, 35, 254–270. https://doi.org/10.1002/curj.224

Rushton, E. A. C., Dunlop, L., & Atkinson, L. (2025). Fostering teacher agency in school-based climate change education in England, UK. The Curriculum Journal, 36(1), 36–51. https://doi.org/10.1002/curj.253

Rushton, E. A. C., & Walshe, N. (2025). Curriculum making and climate change and sustainability education: A case study of school teachers’ practices from England, UK. Environmental Education Research, 31(5), 1083–1097. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2025.2471990

Rushton, E. A. C., Walshe, N., & Johnston, B. J. (2026). Towards justice-oriented climate change and sustainability education: Perspectives from school teachers in England. The Curriculum Journal, 37(1), 7–24. https://doi.org/10.1002/curj.322

Rushton, E. A. C., Walshe, N., & Quiroz-Martinez, D. (2026). Understanding spaces of teacher agency: A case study of the experiences and practices of secondary school teachers in England. Teaching and Teacher Education, 181, Article 105729. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2026.105729

Saraç, S., Yapıcı, N., & Güneş, H. (2026). Climate change education in elementary grades. Education and Science, 51(225), 205–225. https://doi.org/10.15390/ES.2026.2503

Sass, W., Boeve-de Pauw, J., Olsson, D., Rieckmann, M., & Gericke, N. (2025). A quality education for sustainability teaching (QUEST) framework: Advancing action competence in sustainability education. The Journal of Environmental Education, 56(6), 417–434. https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.2025.2542937

Sheldrake, R., Walshe, N., & Hargreaves, E. (2025). Agentic action as an aim for sustainability education: Views from secondary school teachers in England. Environmental Education Research, 31(6), 1117–1134. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2025.2464240

Soysal, N., Wilder, R., Copsey, O., & Milligan, L. O. (2026). Conceptualising a justice approach to environmental education in the Global South: Six pedagogical dimensions. Environmental Education Research, 32(4), 964–983. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2025.2545537

Taufiqurrochman, R. (2025). Linking environmental education and Arabic language teaching: Curriculum analysis of madrasa and pesantren in Indonesia. Studia Ecologiae et Bioethicae, 23(2), 73–85. https://doi.org/10.21697/seb.5845

UNESCO. (2020). Education for sustainable development: A roadmap. https://doi.org/10.54675/YFRE1448

Wakefield, W., Weinberg, A. E., Pretti, E., Merritt, E. G., & Trott, C. (2022). “When I act consciously, I can see a brighter world around me”: Preservice teacher readiness to support transformative sustainability learning. Environmental Education Research, 28(11), 1672–1690. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2022.2085246

Walshe, N., & Rushton, E. A. C. (2026). Understanding teacher agency in the context of school-based climate change and sustainability education: A case study of the experiences of teachers and school students in England. British Educational Research Journal, 52(2), 886–910. https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.70036

Zhang, X., Jung, W., & Asari, M. (2025). Systematic review of environmental education teaching practices in schools: Trends and gaps (2015–2024). Sustainability, 17(19), Article 8561. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17198561




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.32934/jmie.v10i2.999

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

View My Stats

Copyright © 2017, JMIE: Journal of Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Education, p-ISSN: 2580-0868, e-ISSN: 2580-2739

 

Indexed By:

 Logo Google Scholar Logo Garuda Logo Crossref Logo  Base  Logo Dimensions Logo Indonesia Onesearch