How is the Students’ Sustainability Literacy of Junior High Schools in West Java?

Indarini Dwi Pursitasari, Anna Permanasari, Bibin Rubini, Mohamad Iqbal Suriansyah, Annisa Nurramadhani, Toru Matsumoto, Indriyani Rachman

Abstract


This research aims to investigate junior high school students’ sustainability literacy in science learning at environmentally based schools and non-environmentally based schools. This research is quantitative and uses a survey method. The participants are 902 students from three non-environmentally oriented school-based junior high schools and three environmentally oriented school-based junior high schools in West Java. Research data were gathered via a survey questionnaire comprising 25 closed-ended statements and 2 open-ended questions, both of which were valid and reliable. Data analysis of closed statements using the RASCH model by categorizing sustainability literacy using a logit value person (LVP) design. The data analysis of open-ended questions uses Voyant Tools, a website that can digitally read and analyze text. The results showed that students' sustainability literacy in both types of schools was moderate, with averages of 77.2 and 76.9. The highest scoring aspect is awareness of environmentally friendly practices. In contrast, the lowest aspect is waste management habits, and the aspect that students in environmentally school-based settings have, with lower levels than in non-environmentally school-based settings, is environmental action and advocacy for sustainable practices. This research highlighted that junior high school students’ sustainability literacy profiles are still in the moderate category across both school categories and need improvement.

Keywords: sustainability literacy; junior high school; environmentally based school; sains learning

Full Text:

PDF

References


Aikowe, L. D., & Mazancova, J. (2023). Pro-environmental awareness of university students–assessment through sustainability literacy test. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 24(3), 719–741.

Akinsemolu, A. A., & Onyeaka, H. (2025). The role of green education in achieving the sustainable development goals: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 210, 115239.

Alazaiza, M. Y. D., Al Maskari, T., & Al-Zghoul, T. M. (2025). Towards sustainable practices: Evaluating student engagement in solid waste management at A’sharqiyah University, Oman. E3S Web of Conferences, 603, 01021. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202560301021

Andrich, D., & Marais, I. (2019). A course in Rasch measurement theory: Measuring in the educational, social and health sciences (Vol. 41, Issue 8).

Arifin, R., Masyhar, A., Sumardiana, B., Ramada, D. P., Kamal, U., & Fikri, S. (2024). Indonesian sustainable development policy: How the government ensures the environment for future generations. 1355(1), 012005.

Ariyatun, A., Sudarmin, S., Wardani, S., Saptono, S., Rusilowati, A., & Sulistyaningsih, T. (2024). A Comprehensive Study: Assessing the Environmental Literacy Profile in Higher Education for Sustainable Development. International Conference on Mathematics and Science Education (ICoMSE 2023), 80–94.

Astuti, D., & Aminatun, T. (2020). Student’s environmental literacy based on Adiwiyata and non-Adiwiyata at senior high school in Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta. JPBI (Jurnal Pendidikan Biologi Indonesia), 6(3), 375–382.

Azizan, N. H., Mahmud, Z., & Rambli, A. (2020). Rasch rating scale item estimates using maximum likelihood approach: Effects of sample size on the accuracy and bias of the estimates. International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology, 29(4s), Article 4s.

Boeve-de Pauw, J., & Van Petegem, P. (2018). Eco-school evaluation beyond labels: The impact of environmental policy, didactics and nature at school on student outcomes. Environmental Education Research, 24(9), 1250–1267.

Bond, T., & Fox, C. M. (2015). Applying the Rasch Model: Fundamental Measurement in the Human Sciences (3rd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315814698

Chen, C., An, Q., Zheng, L., & Guan, C. (2022). Sustainability Literacy: Assessment of Knowingness, Attitude and Behavior Regarding Sustainable Development among Students in China. Sustainability, 14(9), 4886. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14094886

Chinedu, C. C., Saleem, A., & Wan Muda, W. H. N. (2023). Teaching and learning approaches: Curriculum framework for sustainability literacy for technical and vocational teacher training programmes in Malaysia. Sustainability, 15(3), 2543.

Colucci‐Gray, L., Camino, E., Barbiero, G., & Gray, D. (2006). From scientific literacy to sustainability literacy: An ecological framework for education. Science Education, 90(2), 227–252.

Davies, L. (2006). Global citizenship: Abstraction or framework for action. Educational Review, 58(1), 5–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131910500352523

Décamps, A., Barbat, G., Carteron, J.-C., Hands, V., & Parkes, C. (2017). Sulitest: A collaborative initiative to support and assess sustainability literacy in higher education. The International Journal of Management Education, 15(2), 138–152.

Fatimah, S., Sarwi, S., Linuwih, S., & Dewi, N. R. (2025). Sustainability Literacy in Higher Education: A Bibliometric Overview. 4, 335–347.

Fošner, A. (2025). Sustainability Literacy as a Key to a Better Future: A Look at Higher Education. Sustainability, 17(3), 987.

Gardner, B., & Rebar, A. L. (2019). Habit formation and behavior change. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology.

Goldman, D., Ayalon, O., Baum, D., & Weiss, B. (2018). Influence of ‘green school certification students’ environmental literacy and adoption of sustainable practice by schools. Journal of Cleaner Production, 183, 1300–1313.

Harman, G., & Yenikalayci, N. (2022). Determination of Science Students’ Awareness on Waste Management. Journal of Science Learning, 5(2), 301–320.

Husamah, H., Rahardjanto, A., Permana, T. I., & Lestari, N. (2025). The relationship between environmental literacy, ecological literacy, and science for sustainability: A systematic literature review. Research and Development in Education (RaDEn), 5(1), 351–364.

Kadarisman, I., Pursitasari, I. D., & Jaenudin, D. (2023). Ecoliteracy of Junior High School Students through Phenomenon Based Learning on the Interaction of Living Things with the Environment. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, 9(11), 9075–9086.

Kazazoglu, S. (2025). Environmental Education Through Eco-Literacy: Integrating Sustainability into English Language Teaching. Sustainability, 17(5), 2156.

Lace-Jeruma, L., & Birzina, R. (2019). The improvement of eco-school students’ environmental awareness in the context of education for sustainable development. Rural Environment. Education. Personality, 12, 77–85.

Leiva-Brondo, M., Lajara-Camilleri, N., Vidal-Meló, A., Atarés, A., & Lull, C. (2022). Spanish university students’ awareness and perception of sustainable development goals and sustainability literacy. Sustainability, 14(8), 4552.

Lim, W. M., Das, M., Sharma, W., Verma, A., & Kumra, R. (2025). Gamification for sustainable consumption: A state‐of‐the‐art overview and future agenda. Business Strategy and the Environment, 34(1), 1510–1549.

Ling, S., Landon, A., Tarrant, M., & Rubin, D. (2021). The influence of instructional delivery modality on sustainability literacy. Sustainability, 13(18), 10274.

Murray, P. E., & Cotgrave, A. J. (2007). Sustainability literacy: The future paradigm for construction education? Structural Survey, 25(1), 7–23.

Nurdiana, R. (2021). The influence of differences in learning habits and management of children’s mentoring time on the formation of children’s character. Journal of Diversity in Learning (JDIL), 1(2), 62–69.

Nurramadhani, A., Riandi, R., Permanasari, A., & Suwarma, I. R. (2024). How does Low-Carbon Education Developed in Indonesia? Bibliometric Analysis. Pedagonal: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan, 8(2), Article 2.

Nurwaqidah, S., Suciati, S., & Ramli, M. (2019). Environmental Literacy Mapping Based on Adiwiyata and Non Adiwiyata at Junior High School in Ponorogo. Proceedings of International Conference on Educational Science and Training (ICEST), KnE Social Sciences, 3(15), 179–190. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v3i15.4365

Nurwidodo, N., Amin, M., Ibrohim, I., & Sueb, S. (2020). The role of eco-school program (Adiwiyata) towards environmental literacy of high school students. European Journal of Educational Research, 9(3), 1089–1103.

Parker, L., & Prabawa-Sear, K. (2020). Environmental education in Indonesia: Creating responsible citizens in the global south? Taylor & Francis.

Paryanti, S., Pursitasari, I. D., & Rubini, B. (2021). Ecoliteracy of Junior High School Students in Science Lesson on Environmental Pollution Theme. Scientiae Educatia: Jurnal Pendidikan Sains, 10(1), 12–19.

Perea, H. R., Piedrahita, A. R., & Alzate, Ó. E. T. (2025). Models of environmental awareness: Exploring their nature and role in environmental education–a systematic review. Heliyon, 11(13).

Permana, I., Nurramadhani, A., & Amalia, N. N. (2023). How is Kamishibai are able to Construct Students’ Environment Literacy? Scientiae Educatia: Jurnal Pendidikan Sains, 12(1), 89–97.

Prayogo, W., Ratnaningsih, W., Suhardono, S., & Suryawan, I. W. K. (2024). Environmental education practices in Indonesia: A review. Journal of Sustainable Infrastructure, 3(1).

Putri, A. A., Hidayat, T., & Supriatno, B. (2023). Senior High School Students perception on sustainability literacy in biology learning. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, 9(7), 5737–5744.

Qureshi, S. M. Q. (2020). Learning by sustainable living to improve sustainability literacy. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 21(1), 161–178.

Rahmadiani, R., Utaya, S., & Bachri, S. (2022). Ecological Literacy Siswa SMA Adiwiyata dan Non Adiwiyata. Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, Dan Pengembangan. http://journal.um.ac.id

Rahmasary, A. N., Koop, S. H., & Leeuwen, C. J. (2020). Assessing Bandung’s governance challenges of water, waste, and climate change: Lessons from urban Indonesia. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 17(2), 434–444.

Redman, E. (2013). Opportunities and challenges for integrating sustainability education into k-12 schools: Case study Phoenix, AZ. Journal of Teacher Education for Sustainability, 15(2), 5–24. https://doi.org/10.2478/jtes-2013-0008

Roseland, M. (2000). Sustainable community development: Integrating environmental, economic, and social objectives. Progress in Planning, 54(2), 73–132.

Salonen, A. O., & Åhlberg, M. (2011). Sustainability in Everyday Life: Integrating Environmental, Social, and Economic Goals. Sustainability: The Journal of Record, 4(3), 134–142. https://doi.org/10.1089/SUS.2011.9693

Shang, Y., Xie, Y., & Chen, W. (2024). Addressing resource scarcity and fostering sustainability through environmental education in Asia. Resources Policy, 90, 104823.

Simel, A. (2013). Environmental literacy comparison between Eco-Schools and ordinary schools in Westland Area, Nairobi. University of Nairobi.

Singh, B., Murphy, A., Maher, C., & Smith, A. E. (2024). Time to Form a Habit: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Health Behaviour Habit Formation and Its Determinants. Healthcare, 12(23), 2488. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12232488

Spínola, H. (2015). Environmental literacy comparison between students taught in eco-schools and ordinary schools in the Madeira Island Region of Portugal. Science Education International, 26(3), 392–413.

Tanubrata, D., Purwanto, A., & Budi, S. (2024). The Influence of Pro-Environmental School Culture on Green School Implementation with Students’ Environmental Awareness as a Mediating Variable. International Journal of Current Science Research and Review, 7(12), 8660–8671.

Virsta, A., Sandu, M. A., Daraban, A. E., & Manea, M. (2020). Gaps on waste management education in schools and universities from Bucharest. Journal of Environmental Protection and Ecology, 21(1), 334–342.

Wardhani, D. F., Arisanty, D., Nugroho, A., & Utami, U. B. L. (2024). Environmental Education Model Based on Local Wisdom of the Dayak Paramasan Tribe Indonesia. Nature Environment and Pollution Technology, 23(4), 2259–2272.

Warren, A., Archambault, L., & Foley, R. W. (2014). Sustainability Education Framework for Teachers: Developing sustainability literacy through futures, values, systems, and strategic thinking. Journal of Sustainability Education, 6(4), 23–28.

Winter, J., & Cotton, D. (2012). Making the hidden curriculum visible: Sustainability literacy in higher education. Environmental Education Research, 18(6), 783–796.

Wright, B. D., & Linacre, J. M. (1994). The Rasch model as a foundation for the Lexile Framework.

Yodha, A. (2018). Sustainable development in Indonesia: Holistic assessments and pathways. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Zhang, H. (2023). Reasonable Motivations and Barriers for College Students to Effectively Sort Household Waste. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media, 5(1), 195–200. https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7048/5/20220474




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24014/jnsi.v9i1.38635

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Journal of Natural Science and Integration

E-ISSN: 2620-5092  P-ISSN: 2620-4967

Published By:

Department of Science Education, Faculty of Education and Teacher Training,
State Islamic University of Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau, Indonesia

Mailing Address:

Jl. H.R Soebrantas Km. 15 No. 155
Kelurahan Simpang Baru
Kecamatan Tuah Madani, Pekanbaru, Riau, Indonesia

Email: jnsi.tadrisipa@uin-suska.ac.id

Indexed By:

Google Scholar Crossref Moraref GARUDA Dimensions SINTA 2 ISSN Portal DOAJ

Creative Commons License

Journal of Natural Science and Integration is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.