Eco-Friendly Practices in School Management: A Case Study of Sustainability in Pakistani Elementary Schools

Abstract

This study explores the integration of eco-friendly practices into the management of Pakistani elementary schools and evaluates their impact on the development of students' environmental awareness and behaviors, and the promotion of sustainability. A qualitative case study approach was employed to conduct focus group discussions with 24 students from grades 6 to 8 in four elementary schools located in urban and semi-urban regions. A combination of narrative analysis and thematic coding was utilized to identify key themes related to sustainability, representing the richness of students' experiences. Five key themes were emerged from the data: environmental awareness, behavioral changes, peer engagement, community involvement, and enjoyment and suggestions for the improvement of eco-friendly activities. The results suggest that students' environmental awareness and their adoption of sustainable behaviors beyond the classroom are considerably enhanced by eco-friendly practices in schools. Challenges identified include inconsistent peer engagement and limited community involvement. The study concludes that eco-friendly practices are crucial for promoting sustainability; however, schools need to adopt more interactive and inclusive strategies to effectively engage students and the broader community. This research contributes to understand the important role of schools for encouraging sustainability and offers insights for improving environmental education in Pakistani elementary schools.