Viewing Sustainability through the Lens of Pre-Service Elementary Mathematics Teachers

Sustainability is a way of life that aims to establish a balance between human activities and natural systems, emphasizing the need to pass on the world to future generations in at least its current state or in better conditions. This study aims to examine pre-service elementary mathematics teachers’ awareness, perceptions, and experiences of sustainability; their views on sustainability practices in mathematics teaching; and their perspectives on universities’ institutional sustainability policies. The research was conducted within the qualitative research paradigm using a case study design. The study group consisted of 140 undergraduate students (91 female, 49 male) enrolled in the elementary mathematics teacher education program at the faculty of education of a university in Türkiye during the 2024–2025 academic year. Data were collected through face-to-face and online surveys using an interview form comprising open-ended questions. The data were analyzed using content analysis. The findings indicate that teacher candidates’ perceptions of sustainability are primarily shaped around the themes of considering future generations, continuity, efficient use of resources, and recycling. In mathematics teaching, sustainability was most frequently associated with data analysis, statistics, ratio and proportion, mathematical modeling, and geometry. When designing sustainability-themed activities, participants highlighted goals such as developing environmental awareness, recycling, and conserving natural resources, while also emphasizing barriers such as curriculum intensity, exam-oriented systems, and lack of materials. The results suggest that sustainability should be integrated into mathematics teacher education programs through an interdisciplinary approach, with practical learning environments and the use of digital tools

Education Practices and Challenges · Educational Leadership and Administration · Teacher Professional Development and Motivation