Preparedness of Malaysian pre-school educators for environmental education
The shaping of attitude and values, commitment and skills needed to preserve and protect the environment of individuals begins at an early age. Hence educators especially pre-school teachers play an influential role in developing new patterns of behaviors of the young to adopt a sustainable lifest...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Universiti Putra Malaysia Press
2010
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/16319/1/66.%20Preparedness%20of%20Malaysian%20pre-school%20educators%20for%20environmental%20education.pdf http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/16319/ http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/Pertanika%20PAPERS/JSSH%20Vol.%2018%20(2)%20Sep.%202010/10%20Pg%20271-283.pdf |
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| Summary: | The shaping of attitude and values, commitment and skills needed to preserve and protect the environment
of individuals begins at an early age. Hence educators especially pre-school teachers play an influential role
in developing new patterns of behaviors of the young to adopt a sustainable lifestyle. A study was conducted
to assess the level of preparedness of the pre-school teachers in Malaysia with respect to their degree of
concern for environmental issues, comprehension of fundamental environmental knowledge, and level of
adoption of sustainability practices. A cross-sectional research design utilizing survey method was conducted
among 300 pre-school teachers representing three different types of pre-schools in Malaysia. Data indicated
that the respondents were aware of various basic environmental problems faced by the country but less of
the advanced environmental issues. They were found to be more concerned regarding other social problems
as compared to environmental ones and adoption of sustainable consumption practices of respondents was
modest. Comprehension on fundamental concepts of environment and sustainability needs to be enhanced
further through formal training as the main source of environmental knowledge was acquired through the mass
media. The study shows that it is imperative for various stakeholders, in particular the Ministry of Education,
to develop suitable environmental education syllabus for pre-school teachers training and in-service training
programs in order to enhance their preparedness for environmental education. |
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