Exploring Science Teachers Perspectives on Water and Sanitation Cases: Challenges and Possibilities
Rendi Restiana Sukardi, Wahyu Sopandi, Riandi

Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia

Abstract

Water is one of the abiotic factors in ecosystems which sustainability must always be maintained because it has an impact on lives on earth. Teaching water conservation and sanitation is one of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) that must be achieved by 2030. However, some research results actually show that students still have low conceptual awareness and understanding of these topics. This is because basic competencies in the national curriculum have not been fully integrated with the SDGs indicators. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the perspectives of teachers on the integration of basic competencies in the national curriculum with SDGs indicators on water and sanitation. This research is a qualitative descriptive study involving 10 science teachers in Indonesia selected based on purposive sampling technique. The instruments used were questionnaires and interview guides which content had been validated. The data are processed qualitatively and interpreted to explain the research findings. The results showed that the perspectives of teachers are good after analysing the SDGs indicators both on aspects of knowledge and understanding, skills and applications, as well as the value and attitude of using keywords. This is a result of many similarities with the basic competencies in the national curriculum. However, the basic competencies covering SDGs indicators on water and sanitation are spread in grades 7, 8, and 9 while the material on water and sanitation in the national curriculum is taught in grade 7. This is a challenge that must be faced by teachers. Therefore, teachers must be able to develop appropriate teaching strategies so that all SDGs indicators can be achieved.

Keywords: Water and anitation, SDGs, science teachers perspectives

Topic: Global Issues in Education and Research