The Potential of Teacher Involvement in Improving the City's Environment

This study aims to determine the role of teachers in environmental education and disaster mitigation in Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara. Conducted in August 2023, the study involved 422 primary school teacher respondents through the distribution of questionnaires covering four aspects: teachers' perception of students' interest in the environment, teachers' attention to rivers, teachers' role in disaster mitigation, and teachers' contribution to environmental education. Results showed the majority of teachers play an active role in environmental education and disaster mitigation, with 65% of students interested in learning about the environment and 60% of teachers teaching environmental education. Mataram City, as a tourism-based city, faces environmental challenges such as river pollution, suboptimal waste management, limited infrastructure, and drainage problems. This research explores the strategic role of teachers as agents of change in shaping the mindset and behavior of the younger generation towards environmental issues. Through the integration of environmental education in the curriculum and daily practices, teachers can be effective catalysts in instilling environmental awareness and encouraging action among students. This study aims to assess teachers' perceptions of students' interest in the environment, teachers' attention to rivers, teachers' role in disaster mitigation, and teachers' contribution to environmental education. This research is expected to shed light on the relationship between education and environmental action, and advocate for a proactive role of educators in urban sustainability efforts.