An assessment of environmental awareness towards sustainable development among selected grade twelve pupils in Lusaka District

Abstract

This study was undertaken to assess environmental awareness towards sustainable development among selected grade twelve secondary school pupils in Lusaka District. The study used questionnaires, focus group schedules, and semi-structured interviews to collect data from the field. The main respondents in this study were selected grade twelve secondary school pupils. However, information was also collected from teachers and Headteachers. The objectives of the study were to evaluate levels of pupils’ understanding of environmental sustainable development, determine the availability and viability of environmental awareness programmes as well as to establish the challenges faced by secondary schools in carrying out environmental awareness. The study revealed that environmental awareness levels towards sustainable development in schools was quite poor. Pupils did not have enough information on environmental related issues, especially towards sustainable development because of lack of environmental programmes in their respective schools. Results from this study also revealed that environmental programmes in schools were largely very few and not viable because of lack of funds, reluctance from both learners and their teachers coupled with the absence of well spelt government interventions. Schools faced numerous challenges in their quest to try to improve environmental awareness and the major challenges revealed in this study were those of lack of transport, environmental materials such as magazines and above all lack of funds in schools to supportenvironmental excursions for pupils. Based on the findings stated above, the following recommendations have been made. Government should design programmes that would motivate the teaching of environmental issues such as introduction of compulsory environmental education subject. The practical part of pupils’ learning, which was discovered to be very low in this study should be encouraged since it would inculcate, develop and raise positive environmental perceptions, values, attitudes and skills in pupil. Environmental issues, the world over, have become bedrock of sustainable development with emphasis on the young ones. There is therefore, unwavering need to design an education system that would support sustainable development to prevent natural resources depletion.