TEACHING FOR TOMORROW: GREEN SKILL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH TEACHER EDUCATION

Abstract

As climate change accelerates and ecological crises intensify, education must evolve from awareness to action, beginning with those who teach. This chapter explores the critical role of teacher education in cultivating green skills, a multidimensional blend of technical expertise, critical thinking, sustainability values, and ethical awareness, needed to meet the demands of the 21st century. It argues that systemic green skill development is not achievable without reorienting teacher education as the central driver of change. The chapter explores into policy frameworks, institutional strategies like the whole-school approach, pedagogical transformations, and learner-centred practices that collectively support this mission. It further addresses current barriers such as institutional inertia and curriculum overload while proposing forward-thinking solutions involving accreditation reform, community partnerships, and faculty development. Through real classroom examples and practical insights, the chapter envisions a future in which every teacher is a sustainability educator and every classroom a space for ecological transformation. Ultimately, it calls for bold, collaborative efforts from policymakers, educators, and institutions to embed sustainability deeply and permanently in teacher education systems worldwide.