Integrating Environmental Education into Secondary-level Natural Science Curriculum for Sustainable Development: A Vietnamese Case Study

Abstract

This study evaluates the effectiveness of integrating environmental education into secondary-level Natural Science curriculum to engage students in sustainability. Guided by Hungerford’s framework, we used a deductive content analysis to examine the alignment of curriculum content across grades 6 to 9 in Vietnam. The results showed that the curriculum addresses 17 out of 19 environmental knowledge themes, covering essential topics such as biodiversity, ecosystem dynamics, and energy conservation, and emphasizes experiential learning through laboratory and field activities, enabling students to apply scientific concepts in real-world situations. However, key themes related to civic engagement, environmental ethics, and global environmental challenges are notably underrepresented. We suggest that comprehensive integration of advanced environmental education themes, including citizenship action and global issues, alongside improvements in teacher training and resource availability. Such enhancements would better prepare students for global environmental literacy and active citizenship, empowering them to contribute meaningfully to sustainable development.