An Assessment of the Level of Environmental Awareness of 'A' Level Geography Pupils at three Secondary Schools in Masvingo Urban

Daniel Gamira*
Department of Teacher Development, Great Zimbabwe University, Masvingo, Zimbabwe.
Periodicity:September - November'2020
DOI : https://doi.org/10.26634/jsch.16.2.17415

Abstract

Environmental knowledge and awareness are the major environmental tools for sustainable development. The rise in environmental problems such as river siltation, uncontrolled population growth, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, pollution and climate change are due to lack of environmental education. The current study analyses the level of environmental awareness for Advanced level students at three secondary schools in Masvingo Urban. The study purposively sampled 20 students. Data has been generated through Environmental Awareness Test (EAT), questionnaire and interview. The study revealed that environmental knowledge for advanced level learners is exceptionally high as indicated in their responses for EAT. Despite their higher level of environmental knowledge, their environmental participation has been only restricted to school boundary due to external influences like shortage of resources and economic factors that limit environmental participation.

Keywords

Environmental Awareness, Sustainable Development, Environmental Education, Environmental Challenges

How to Cite this Article?

Gamira, D. (2020). An Assessment of the Level of Environmental Awareness of 'A' Level Geography Pupils at three Secondary Schools in Masvingo Urban. i-manager's School Educational Technology, 16(2), 20-30. https://doi.org/10.26634/jsch.16.2.17415

References

[1]. Anijaobi-Idem, F. N., Ukata, B. N., & Bisong, N. N. (2015). Environmental awareness and school sanitation in Calabar Metropolis of Cross Rivers State, Nigeria. Journal of Education and Practice, 6(4), 68-71.
[2]. Astalin, P. K. (2011). A study of environmental awareness among higher secondary students and some educational factors affecting it. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 1(7), 90-101.
[3]. Aydın, F., Kaya, H., & Coşkun, M. (2011). The role of geography course in building environmental conscious. World Applied Sciences Journal, 12(6), 822-829.
[4]. Bamberg, S. (2003). How does environmental concern influence specific environmentally related behaviors? A new answer to an old question. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 23(1), 21-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272- 4944(02)00078-6
[5]. Banerjee, N., & Das, A. (2014). A study of environmental awareness among higher secondary school students of Bankura district in West Bengal. Indian Journal of Applied Research, 4(7), 134-136.
[6]. Bazerman, M. H., & Moore, D. A. (2002). Judgement in th Managerial Decision Making (5 Ed). New York: John-Wiley and Sons.
[7]. Behera, J., & Samal, R. M. (2015). Environmental knowledge of secondary school students: A topographical analysis. International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research, 3(2), 252-261.
[8]. Bonnet, M. (2003). Education for sustainable development: Sustainability as a frame of mind. Journal of Philosophy of Education, 37(4), 675-690.
[9]. Check, J., & Schutt, R. K. (2011). Research methods in education. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
[10]. Chege, S. E. (2011). Assessing youth participation in decision-making processes in community development programmes: A case study of the Spes Bona High School Dream2be Peer Education Programme (Doctoral dissertation), University of the Western Cape Town, South Africa. http://hdl. handle.net/11394/1541
[11]. Chihombori, J., Nyoni, K., & Gamira, D. (2013). Causes and rate of reservoir sedimentation due to changes in catchment management. A case of Marah Dam in Masvingo Province of Zimbabwe. Greener Journal of Geology and Earth Sciences, 1(1), 7-12.
[12]. Chitata, T., Mugabe, F. T., & Kashaigili, J. J. (2014). Estimation of small reservoir sedimentation in semi–arid southern Zimbabwe. Journal of Water Resources and Protection, 6, 1017 – 1028.
[13]. Cottrell, S. P., & Graefe, A. R. (1997). Testing a conceptual framework of responsible environmental behavior. The Journal of Environmental Education, 29(1), 17-27. https://doi.org/10.1080/00958969709599103
[14]. Diekmann, A., & Preisendörfer, P. (2003). Green and greenback: The behavioral effects of environmental attitudes in low-cost and high-cost situations. Rationality and Society, 15(4), 441-472. https://doi.org/10.1177% 2F1043463103154002
[15]. Douglas, O. B., & Holland, B. F. (1938). Fundamentals of educational psychology. Oxford: Macmillan. https:// psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/14910-000
[16]. Ejimabo, N. O. (2015). The effective research process: Unlocking the advantages of ethnographic strategies in the qualitative research methods. European Scientific Journal, 11(23), 1857-7881
[17]. Fien, J., Ai, I. T. C. P., Yencken, D., Sykes, H., & Treagust, D. (2002). Youth environmental attitudes in Australia and Brunei: Implications for education. Environmentalist, 22(3), 205-216. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016571526997
[18]. Fishbein, M., & Ajzen, I. (1977). Belief, attitude, intention and behavior: An introduction to theory and research. Philosophy and Rhetoric, 10(2), 130-132.
[19]. Flick, U., Kardorff, E. V., & Steinke, I. (2004). What is qualitative research? An introduction to the field. In U. Flick, E. V. Kardorff, & I. Steinke (Eds.), A companion to qualitative research (p. 6). Washington D.C.: Sage Publications.
[20]. Ghosh, K. (2014). Environmental awareness among secondary school students of Golaghat district in the state of Assam and their attitude towards environmental education. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 19(3), 30-34.
[21]. Gigliotti, L. M. (1994). Environmental issue: cornell students' willingness to take action in 1990. Journal of Environmental Education, 26(1), 34 – 42. https://doi.org/10. 1080/00958964.1994.9941431
[22]. Gray, D. E. (2014). Doing Research in the Real World (2nd ed.). New Delhi: Sage Publications. https://www. academia.edu/29567720/Doing_Research_in_the_Real_ Worl_David_E_Gray
[23]. Hancock, D. R., & Algozzine, B. (2006). Doing case study research. New York: Teachers College Press.
[24]. Hausbeck, K. W., Milbrath, L. W., & Enright, S. M. (1992). Environmental knowledge, awareness and concern th among 11 -grade students: New York State. The Journal of Environmental Education, 24(1), 27-34. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/00958964.1992.9943493
[25]. Hungerford, H. R., & Volk, T. L. (1990). Changing learner behavior through environmental education. The Journal of Environmental Education, 21(3), 8-21. https:// doi.org/10.1080/00958964.1990.10753743
[26]. Jain, R. (2015). Environmental awareness among senior secondary level students. International Journal of Research Granthaalayah, 1-3.
[27]. Joppe, M. (2000). The Research Process. Retrieved from http://www.ryerson.ca/~mjoppe/rp.htm
[28]. Kaiser, F. G., Wölfing, S., & Fuhrer, U. (1999). Environmental attitude and ecological behavior. Journal of Environmental Psychology,19(1), 1-19. https://doi.org /10.1006/jevp.1998.0107
[29]. Kaushik, C. P., & Kaushik, A. (2010). Basics of environment and ecology. New Delhi: New Age International Publishers.
[30]. Kollmuss, A., & Agyeman, J. (2002). Mind the gap: Why do people act environmentally and what are the barriers to pro-environmental behavior? Environmental Education Research, 8(3), 239-260. https://doi.org/10. 1080/13504620220145401
[31]. Kundacina, M. (1991). Factors of student's education about protection of environment (Doctoral Dissertation). Faculty of Philosophy Ss. Syril and Methodius University, Skopje North Macedonia.
[32]. Luke, C. (2001). Globalization and women in academia: North/west-South/east. NY: Routledge.
[33]. Mohai, P., & Twight, B. W. (1987). Age and environmentalism: An elaboration of the Buttel model using national survey evidence. Social Science Quarterly, 68(4), 798.
[34]. Nikel, J. (2005). Ascribing responsibility: A study of student teachers' understanding(s) of education, sustainable development and ESD (Doctoral dissertation). University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom.
[35]. Nkomo, G. V., & Sassi, M. (2009). Impact of veld fires on land on small holder farmers in Cashel Valley in Zimbabwe. NAF International Working Paper Series, 9(2),1- 17.
[36]. Poortinga, W., Steg, L., & Vlek, C. (2004). Values, environmental concern, and environmental behavior: A study into household energy use. Environment and behavior, 36(1), 70-93. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F00139 16503251466
[37]. Ramsey, C. E., & Rickson, R. E. (1976). Environmental knowledge and attitudes. The Journal of Environmental Education, 8(1), 10-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964. 1976.9941552
[38]. Sauvé, L. (2005). Environmental education: Possibilities and constraints. Educação e Pesquisa, 31(2), 317-322. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1517-97022005000200 012
[39]. Shobeiri, S. M., Omidvar, B., & Prahallada, N. N. (2007). A comparative study of environmental awareness among secondary school students in Iran and India. International Journal of Environmental Research, 1(1), 28- 34.
[40]. Toili, W. W. (2007). Secondary school students' partipation in environmental action: Coercion or dynamism? Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 3(1), 51-69.
[41]. UNESCO. (1985). Interdisciplinary Approaches in Environmental Education. Paris: UNESCO Publishing.
[42]. UNESCO. Education for all 2000–2015: Achievements and challenges. EFA Global Monitoring Report, 500. Paris: UNESCO Publishing.
[43]. UNESCO. (2005). United Nations decade of education for sustainable development (2005-2014): International implementation scheme. Paris: UNESCO Publishing.
[44]. Waheeda, C. M. (2009). An assessment of the role of eco-schools in achieving whole school development through sustainability education (Doctoral Thesis, University of South Africa, Pretoria). Retrieved from http://hdl.handle. net/10500/353
[45]. Welman, C., Kruger, F., & Mitchell, B. (2005). Research methodology. Cape Town, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
[46]. Wentz, P. E. (2016). Creating online communities of practice: Enhancing preservice teacher growth-A case study (Doctoral dissertation), University of Kansas, Kansas, United States. Retrieved from https://kuscholarworks.ku. edu/handle/ 1808/25428
[47]. Werner, P. (2004). Reasoned action and planned behaviour. In S. J. Peterson, & T. S. Bredow, Middle range theories: Application to nursing research. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, (pp. 125-147).
[48]. Williams, S. (2016, March 25). Land reform disastrous for wildlife. The Zimbabwean. Retrieved from https://www. thezimbabwean.co/2016/02/land-reform-disastrous-forwildlife/
[49]. ZNEEPS (2003). Zimbabwe National Environmental Education Policy and Strategies. Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Harare: Government Printers.
[50]. (ZNEEPS). (2009). Zimbabwe National Environmental Education Policy and Strategies. Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Harare: Government Printers.
If you have access to this article please login to view the article or kindly login to purchase the article

Purchase Instant Access

Single Article

North Americas,UK,
Middle East,Europe
India Rest of world
USD EUR INR USD-ROW
Online 15 15

Options for accessing this content:
  • If you would like institutional access to this content, please recommend the title to your librarian.
    Library Recommendation Form
  • If you already have i-manager's user account: Login above and proceed to purchase the article.
  • New Users: Please register, then proceed to purchase the article.