The contribution of environmental education in raising students' knowledge, attitude and Practice in Selected first cycle secondary schools
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Date
2007-08
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Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
With the objective of investigating the contribution of the General Secondary Education .liJr
raising students ' knowledge, attitude and practice in environmental issues, the research
employed both qualitative and quantitative methods. Scores of students on a maslery test,
opinions of both students and teachers through questionnaires and content analysis by teachers
were the main data sources. In addition to the overall analysis, comparisons were made in terms
of gender, location and schools for students' knowledge.
Though the method of integration varies./i"om one subject to the other, the investigation was able
to find objectives thai could let the curriculum integrate adequate and relevant environmental
issues. Unlike the case in ChemistlY, the integration of contents In Geography was in a multitopic
approach which is in line with what is recommended for environmental education. Students
beller pel:formance in geography-related environmental issues was atlributed to this method of
integration.
. Despite the positive evaluation on the integration of environmental issues, students' knowledge,
allitude and skills were found to be below the standard. Assessed through a criterion referenced
test, only 24% of the students who were found to have the required level of knowledge in the
issue. The evaluation against allitude and skill inventories using a five point rating scale
indicated only 18% and 46 % of the students with acceptable degree of achievement in the
respective domains. The linear relationship that was expected to exist between knowledge,
attitude and skill was not maintained.
The assessment of students' knowledge using open-ended items showed a different result as
compared to what was obtained through the test scores. The difference could have happened due
to methodological differences; students' competence in the medium instruction (as the
instruments were conducted in different languages) or due to the different in the statistical
measurement techniques employed in each case.
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Keywords
Environmental education