Exploring Outdoor Education Practices and Students’ Development : Teachers’ Perceptions in Liberian Schools

Education is the bedrock in building a strong, vibrant, and sustainable nation. However, the traditional classroom teaching approach remains the foundation of education in Liberia, and integrating outdoor learning presents challenges. This limitation makes it harder for students to learn and develop both intellectually and holistically. The study investigates the impact of outdoor education (OE) on students’ academic performance, social interaction, and personal development. It identifies barriers to the effective implementation of outdoor education, including opportunities for incorporating outdoor learning. Data were collected from six teachers using a qualitative research methodology and were analyzed thematically. Findings reveal that outdoor education strengthens students’ ability to work collaboratively, think independently, nurture creativity, regulate emotions, and achieve better learning outcomes. Yet, the teacher-centered approach, limited resources, and lack of structured support hinder its practice. Despite these challenges, teachers are willing to integrate outdoor learning. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating outdoor education into the national curriculum and strengthening teacher professional development in outdoor pedagogies to ensure its effective implementation.