From awareness to action: strengthening environmental education training for social educators

This study takes a closer look at how environmental education is woven into the training of social educators in Portugal, emphasizing its importance for those working with vulnerable individuals and communities. Grounded in a socio-pedagogical framework, the research emphasizes the importance of equipping social educators with the knowledge and tools necessary to address the complex intersection of social and environmental challenges. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 72 social educators to explore their perceptions, levels of preparedness, and specific training needs related to environmental education. The findings reveal a strong recognition of the importance of environmental education and its potential to foster sustainable development, particularly working with disadvantaged communities. However, the results also expose significant shortcomings, including insufficient coverage of environmental education during initial training, limited access to updated resources, and a lack of institutional support. Furthermore, educators express a clear demand for more specialized and practical training opportunities, particularly on topics such as biodiversity, sustainable development goals, and environmental justice. We conclude by recommending the development of comprehensive and context-sensitive training programs, as well as greater institutional investment in resources and support, to strengthen the integration of environmental education in the professional practices of social educators in Portugal.