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Abstract
This study sought to explore the views and perceptions of education stakeholders (i.e. teachers, heads of schools and curriculum specialists) on the integration of environmental education into primary education curricula in Tanzania. The study also sought for stakeholders’ views and perceptions to explain why EE has not been a successful story despite having been integrated in schools for decades. Empirical studies by Kimaryo (2011) and Mtaita (2007) discovered that although EE was included in Tanzanian primary schools since 1960’s and was even stressed in the policy of education in 1990’s; yet, the condition of environment has rather deteriorated.
Studies that have been conducted in this field, mainly explained the success or failure of EE implementation basing on teachers and students as key agents, thus capturing a narrow view to explain the phenomenon. As argued by Klitgaard (1973) in the theory of diffusion of innovations in education, success or failure of educational innovations and reforms cannot be a priori attributed to only one part of the educational system. He says educational systems operate in a chain of command where different actors and levels of authorities need to function properly and collaborate with other levels so as to ensure successful implementation of change and reforms in curriculum. For this reason, this study involved the curriculum specialists and heads of schools besides teachers. Moreover, none of the studies has explored how the school theory promotes or hinders the integration of EE into the curriculum.
The study attempted to answer the following four questions:
Which views and perceptions do teachers have on the environment, environmental changes and challenges?
How do teachers perceive EE integration, content adequacy and relevance; And which instructional methods and resources do they use in integrating EE content into their subject curriculum?
How do teachers perceive their motivation and professional development on environmental education issues?
How do heads of schools and curriculum specialists perceive EE integration, and how do they motivate teachers to successfully integrate EE into their teaching?
The study is qualitative in nature, employing research techniques such as interviews and document analysis to answer the inquiry. Data was obtained from five primary schools’ teachers, heads of schools and curriculum specialists with a total of 30 participants taking part in the study. Grounded theory and thematic strategies were employed in data analysis.
The findings from teachers revealed that environmental changes and challenges are mainly seen as anthropogenic. The issue of climate change was a concern for a majority of participants. Awareness of the concept of ‘pillars of sustainability’ (i.e. ecology, economy and culture) is generally low and their balance is perceived impossible without addressing the poverty issue. Teachers’ competence and motivation are low due to lack of resources and professional training, large class sizes and work load as well as lack of government priority on environmental issues. Moreover, results revealed that EE goals and principles are incompatible with the traditional role and goals of schooling, and as EE is not a subject in itself, it is marginalized in teaching. Findings from heads of schools and curriculum
specialists confirmed most of the findings from teachers, and acknowledged that very little support for teachers to implement EE was provided. In general, results concluded that there was no perspective for effective implementation of EE in the near future, unless there is due priority given from top authorities downwards.
The study recommends capacity building of teachers as well as involvement in planning and development for curricula reforms. Government priority on environmental issues is insisted on and urged to set concrete criteria for EE competence assessment in curricula. To ensure environmental sustainability the government should keep striving to fight poverty. Lastly the study proposes a model to improve the implementation of EE in primary schools. The findings of this study hold imperative implications for the government through the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training in Tanzania, curriculum specialists, and heads of schools as well as teachers as they are key players in determining the success or failure of educational innovations and reforms.
Hintergrund. Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung nehmen im Bereich der Demenzforschung einen immer wichtiger werdenden Stellenwert ein. In Abwesenheit eines pharmakologischen Heilmittels stellt Bewegungsförderung einen vielversprechenden Ansatz dar, um hemmend auf die Krankheitsprogression einzuwirken. Dennoch besteht aktuell eine Vielzahl an Forschungslücken hinsichtlich der optimalen Ausgestaltung von Bewegungsangeboten für Menschen mit Demenz, speziell im Hinblick auf das Versorgungssetting Pflegeheim. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es daher, ein praxistaugliches und gesundheitswirksames Bewegungsprogramm für Menschen mit Demenz im Setting Pflegeheim zu entwickeln, umzusetzen und zu evaluieren.
Methode. Die Entwicklung des Bewegungsprogramms erfolgte auf Basis der Methoden-Triangulation eines Systematic Reviews mit Interviews mit Menschen mit Demenz und Partizipationsworkshops mit in Pflegeheimen Tätigen. Das entwickelte Multikomponenten-Bewegungsprogramm wurde für den Zeitraum von 12 Wochen, zweimal wöchentlich mit der Dauer von jeweils 60 Minuten in fünf Pflegeheimen durchgeführt. Die Wirksamkeit des entwickelten Bewegungsprogramms wurde durch ein randomisiertes und kontrolliertes Forschungsdesign überprüft, dabei wurden die Zielparameter Mobilität, erhoben mit der Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), dem Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) und dem Ganganalysesystem GAITRite, Aktivitäten des täglichen Lebens, erhoben mit der Bayer ADL-Skala (B-ADL), Lebensqualität, erhoben mit dem QUALIDEM und Kommunikations- und Interaktionsfertigkeiten, erhoben mit dem Assessment der Kommunikations- und Interaktionsfertigkeiten (ACIS), vor (t0) und nach der Intervention (t1) untersucht. Die Umsetzbarkeit des Bewegungsprogramms wurde mittels qualitativen Gruppendiskussionen mit Menschen mit Demenz und Feedback-Fragebögen aus der Perspektive der Trainingsanleiter*innen evaluiert.
Ergebnisse. Insgesamt nahmen 63 Personen mit einem Durchschnittsalter von 86.27 Jahren an der Studie teil. Die Drop-out-Rate lag bei 18.87% und Anwesenheitsrate bei 80.46%. Signifikante Verbesserungen in der Interventionsgruppe zeigen SPPB (t0:3.15 vs. t1:4.50; p=.002), TUG (sec) (t0:34.12 vs. t1:31.96; p=.040), B-ADL (t0:6.37 vs. t1:5.02; p=.012), ACIS (t0:8.75 vs. t1:10.01; p=.003) und die Ganggeschwindigkeit (cm/sec) (t0:46.97 vs. t1:58.04; p=.001). Im Gruppen- und Zeitvergleich weisen SPPB (p=.006) und Ganggeschwindigkeit (p=.007) signifikante Verbesserungen auf. Sowohl die Trainer*innen als auch die Menschen mit Demenz bewerten das Bewegungsprogramm uneingeschränkt als praktisch umsetzbar, an die Bedürfnisse der Zielgruppe anpassbar und freudvoll.
Diskussion. Durch das partizipative Vorgehen konnte ein evidenzbasiertes, praxistaugliches und nachhaltiges Bewegungsprogramm entwickelt werden, das zudem gesundheitswirksame Effekte im Bereich der Mobilität und Aktivitäten des täglichen Lebens zeigt. Die Studienergebnisse sind für die Entwicklung von Bewegungsempfehlungen für Menschen mit Demenz wegweisend.