The Contribution of Islamic Education Teachers in Instilling Environmentally Caring Behavior in Students

Abstrak

Environmental degradation has become one of the most urgent global challenges, requiring educational institutions to play a strategic role in shaping environmentally responsible behaviour among younger generations. In the Indonesian context, schools are expected to cultivate ecological awareness not only through scientific instruction but also through value-based education. Islamic Religious Education (PAI) teachers hold a crucial position in this process due to their responsibility in guiding students’ moral and spiritual development. Islamic teachings provide strong ecological foundations such as the concepts of khalifah, amanah, tawazun, and the prohibition of israf which can be effectively integrated into classroom learning and school culture. This study aims to examine the contribution of PAI teachers in fostering environmental awareness and environmentally responsible behaviour among students. Employing a library research method, the study analyses scientific articles, books, policy documents, and previous research related to Islamic education and environmental ethics. The findings indicate that PAI teachers contribute significantly through four domains: modelling environmentally responsible behaviour, integrating ecological values into religious instruction, facilitating environmentally oriented habituation programs, and serving as key initiators in school-based environmental activities. Several instructional strategies such as project-based learning, contextual teaching, and thematic integration of Qur’anic verses are identified as effective approaches. The study concludes that PAI teachers play an essential role in shaping students’ eco-literacy and environmental morality. Strengthening their competence and integrating environmental education into PAI curricula are necessary steps to promote sustainable environmental consciousness among students.