Community-Based Development of an Environmental Education Curriculum in Coastal Primary Schools The Case of SDN 1 Pasir Panjang

Abstract

This study explores the development of a community-based environmental education curriculum at SDN 1 Pasir Panjang, located on Rinca Island, as an effort to strengthen ecological awareness among primary school students in coastal areas. Although environmental degradation increasingly affects island communities, formal education in such regions often lacks participatory models that actively involve local stakeholders. Employing a qualitative approach with a community-based education framework, this research engaged students, teachers, parents, and local volunteers in a collaborative design process. The implemented activities included school clean-up campaigns, organic and inorganic waste sorting, and the creation of mosaic artworks from collected plastic waste. The findings reveal that shared responsibility between the school and community significantly enhanced students’ environmental  ttitudes, encouraged sustainable behavior, and fostered stronger school-community collaboration. This model demonstrates that community-based curriculum development can serve as an effective strategy for embedding sustainability values in primary education, particularly within coastal and island contexts.