An evaluation of the role of environmental education in promoting sustainable living in secondary schools, Umkhanyakude district, Kwazulu-Natal

Abstract

Our beautiful planet, earth, is under present and future threats ranging from over-utilisation of natural resources, limited access to water and food, poverty and climate change, to name a few. These threats are crafted by human kind in his quest for living a better life and can be resolved by man himself. The knowledge and skills to deal with such problems are essentially important and are thus embedded in education. Education is, therefore, viewed as a critical tool for addressing all these environmental threats and for promoting sustainable living among the school communities. The study focussed on evaluation of the role of environmental education in promoting sustainable living in secondary schools. It also aims to foster environmental behaviour in learners and transform secondary schools from unsustainable living to sustainable living. The study was conducted in five circuits in the District of UMkhanyakude. In each circuit two secondary schools were purposefully selected to participate. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches, hence mixed method. A questionnaire was used to collect both quantitative and qualitative approach. The qualitative data was also collected through observations and through open-ended questions of a questionnaire. The participants were subjected to the pre-test, EEP and post-test evaluation. The findings of the investigation revealed that there was a significant statistical differences between the overall pre- and post-test impact on the environmental knowledge, behaviour, attitude and skills. The pre-test results revealed that there was a lack of participants’ knowledge, skills and attitude towards their environment. In the post-test scores, the participants exhibited significant improvement with regard to water savings, energy savings, waste management, purchasing and consumption, garden and school grounds. It is believed that the study will encourage individual learners, educators, non-educators and their parents to transform from present day patterns of unsustainable practices to the ones which are more sustainable. The conclusion drawn from this study, is that when EE is coupled with hand-on activities, becomes effective in promoting sustainable living.