Assessment of Differences on Students Awareness and Attitude Towards Deforestation and Soil Erosion in Shire Area Highschools
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Date
2011-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Currently environmental problems are becoming the havoc problems facing our world.
Particularly environmental problems like soil erosion and deforestation are serious
problems in Ethiopia. Environmental problems only can be solved if citizens develop
awareness about environmental problems and brings favorable attitudes which in turn
bring behavioral change. Inline with this, the study focused on assessment of students’
awareness and attitude towards deforestation and soil erosion in Shire Indasilassie and
Semema secondary schools to determine their awareness and attitude and identify
significant differences based on school type and other subpopulations.
The study followed a comparative research methodology. In the study 346 sample
respondents were selected using proportional stratified random sampling method. Data
was gathered using a set of questionnaire consisted of two sections (one that measure
about awareness which comprised of 27 questions and the second section that measure
respondents’ attitude consisting of 13 questions) and two focus group discussions was
used as instrument of data collection. To analayse data the survey has employed
qualitative and quantitative methods in that, data gathered through questionnaire and
focus group discussion analaysed quantitatively and qualitatively respectively.
It was also found out that in the awareness test; female, Semema high school students,
interested to environment related courses, those rural based students, students from low
income and illiterate parents found better of in their awareness to the
local environmental problems. Moreover, female, grade ten, rural based, Semema high
school students, students from low income and illiterate parents were found to have
favorable attitude towards the problem in the attitude test. There was a very weak
positive bivariate correlation between students’ environmental awareness and attitude.
Based on the results of the survey, the researcher concluded that majority of students of
the study area have low awareness and unfavorable attitude towards the problem
understudy. Furthermore, the study revealed that their source of information about the
environment and its allied problem is the formal education system. In addition, review of
environment related subjects revealed inadequate and shallow contents targeted to the
environment are integrated. Depending on the major finding and conclusions, the survey
recommended schools of the study area to do their beast to increase students awareness and brings favorable attitude by opening environmental clubs and broadcasting environmental issues through school media. Furthermore, the survey recommended to the curriculum designers to incorporate more environmental contents into Biology and Geography courses which in turn can promote more awareness and positive attitude towards environmental issues
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Keywords
Geography and Environmental Studies