FOSTERING ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS IN PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF A WASTE MANAGEMENT EDUCATION PROGRAM

Forfattere

  • Ilias Karachalios Researcher, School of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece Lecturer, School of Education, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece
  • Nikolaos Manesis Laboratory Teaching Staff, School of Education, University of Patras, Greece

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v12i4.5886

Nøgleord:

environmental education, sustainability, waste management, primary education

Resumé

This study investigates the environmental knowledge and perceptions of primary school students in Greece, emphasizing critical gaps in waste management awareness and sustainability within the context of Greece's efforts to align with the European Union’s Circular Economy Action Plan. The research examines students’ understanding of fundamental concepts such as waste types, recycling, and sustainability while also assessing the impact of a targeted educational intervention. The intervention consisted of a structured teaching session supplemented by an engaging creative activity, where students designed posters to celebrate World Environment Day, fostering environmental literacy through experiential learning. The findings revealed initial gaps in students' knowledge, especially regarding sustainability and organic waste. However, the intervention significantly enhanced their understanding, particularly in linking sustainability to economic, societal, and environmental factors, and fostered a sense of personal responsibility for waste reduction. This research underscores the pivotal role of targeted, experiential interventions in primary education, advocating for their integration into formal curricula to cultivate environmental stewardship and advance global sustainability goals. It highlights the need for integrating experiential learning and environmental education into school curricula to better prepare students for addressing global sustainability challenges. The study offers important insights for educators, policymakers, and curriculum developers in designing effective programs to enhance environmental literacy.

 

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Forfatterbiografier

  • Ilias Karachalios, Researcher, School of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece Lecturer, School of Education, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece

    Karachalios Ilias is a Researcher at the Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, and a Lecturer at the Department of Early Childhood Education, School of Education, Democritus University of Thrace.

  • Nikolaos Manesis, Laboratory Teaching Staff, School of Education, University of Patras, Greece

    Manesis Nikolaos is a Laboratory Teaching Staff of the Department of Educational Sciences and Social Work, School of Education of the University of Patras, Greece.

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Publiceret

2025-03-14

Nummer

Årg. 12 Nr. 4 (2025)

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