BARRIERS TO SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN ZAMBIAN HIGH SCHOOLS: A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED HIGH SCHOOLS OF CENTRAL PROVINCE
Files
Date
2011-11-09
Authors
Monde, Pauline Namakau
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
It is globally known that the environment is under threat of degradation. It is even very
clear in a number of places across the globe how human activities have led to the
degradation of the environment. There is need to lay emphasis on local, national and
international cooperation in the solution to environmental problems (UNESCO: 1979)
Zambia, like many other countries, has not been spared from environmental problems.
According to the Ministry of Education, Environmental Education in Zambia is a cross
cutting issue that is incorporated in all the subjects taught in schools (GRZ, 2001). It is,
therefore, important to incorporate Environmental Education in all forms of education be
it formal, informal or non-formal.
This study investigated barriers to successful implementation of Environmental
Education in 6 selected Zambian High Schools in Central Province. The study sample
was composed of 93 respondents of which 8 were MoE officers, 5 high school
administrators, 50 teachers and 30 pupils. The aim of the study was to determine barriers
to the implementation of Environmental Education in Zambian High Schools. The study
further sought to find out challenges faced by Zambian High Schools in implementing
Environmental Education.
One of the objectives of this study was to establish the effectiveness of the current
National Policy on Education „Educating our Future‟ of (1996) in helping the
implementation of Environmental Education in Zambian High Schools.
xv
The study adopted a qualitative and quantitative research design. The research
instruments that were used to collect data were questionnaires, focus group discussions
and guided interview schedules.
The study established that all stakeholders in the implementation of Environmental
Education in high schools faced a lot of challenges. The study revealed that MoE officials
had a poor mechanism of communicating with high school officials regarding the
position of EE and, hence, some information known by MoE was not known by school
administrators. The study further established that most teachers lacked knowledge on
Environmental Education making it difficult to acknowledge it and even teach it
successfully.
The study recommends that there is a lot of room in improving the delivery of
Environmental Education in Zambian High Schools. There is need to educate school
administrators and their teachers on the existence and status of Environmental Education
in school subjects.
Description
Keywords
Enviromental