INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ON UNDERGRADUATES’ PERCEPTIONS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Authors

  • Morayo Janet Odunyemi Department of Science Education, Faculty of Education, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria
  • Ajiboye Ojo Olaoye Department of Vocational and Technical Education, Faculty of Education, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria
  • Christian Junior Ayodele Department of Guidance and Counselling, Faculty of Education, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v10i9.4983

Keywords:

perception, environmental education, development education, undergraduates, sustainable development

Abstract

The obvious environmental, social and economic crises across the globe are a reminder of the need for environmental education in institutions of higher learning to provide undergraduates with the competence to live sustainably and promote the quality of life for both present and future generations. The study examined the influence of environmental education on undergraduates’ perception of sustainable development. The study adopted the descriptive research design of the survey type. The population of the study comprised all the 2,892 undergraduates in 2017/2018-2020/2021 academic sessions in the Science Education Department, Faculty of Education, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria. The sample for this study was 120 undergraduates from the Department who were purposively selected for the study. The instrument used for the study was a questionnaire. The instrument was validated by experts in the Faculty of Education, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti. The reliability coefficient was determined using test-retest and a coefficient of 0.88 was obtained. Frequency counts, percentages and mean were used to answer the research questions while the inferential statistics involving Pearson Product Moment Correlation were used to test the hypothesis at a 0.05 level of significance. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that environmental education should be made compulsory for all students due to its potential to inculcate in students, environmental literacy for environmental quality and decision-making process to encourage a healthy society and sustainable future, and should be included in the curriculum in order to promote sustainable development. It was also recommended that parents should endeavour to inculcate moral values in their children for hard work, respect for nature, human diversity and gender equity so as to promote sustainable development in any environment they find themselves. It was also recommended that the university authorities need to embrace and intensify the learning of environmental education towards giving undergraduates the requisite environmental, social and economic literacy that promotes sustainable development.

 

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Author Biographies

  • Morayo Janet Odunyemi, Department of Science Education, Faculty of Education, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

    Odunyemi Morayo Janet is a lecturer II and PhD student in the Department of Science Education, Faculty of Education, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria. Her area of research interest includes entrepreneurship and Basic Science Education for Sustainable Development among others.

  • Ajiboye Ojo Olaoye, Department of Vocational and Technical Education, Faculty of Education, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

    Dr. Olaoye Ajiboye Ojo is a senior lecturer in the Department of Vocational and Technical Education, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria. He attended Technical Secondary, Ikole Ekiti in Ekiti State, Nigeria.  He later proceeded to College of Education, Ikere Ekiti and studied Woodwork /Technical Drawing.  He also proceeded to University of Nigeria, Nsukka and studied Industrial Technical Education (Building /Woodwork Technology). He also enrolled for his master’s degree in Industrial Technical Education at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and studied Building /Woodwork Technology. He later proceeded to the University of Nigeria. Nsukka for his Ph. D programme and studied Woodwork Technology. Dr. Olaoye Ajiboye Ojo research interest includes Building Technology, Woodwork Technology, Technical Education, Vocational Education and Vocametrics. He has taught many courses and supervised both undergraduate and post graduate students. He is a member of many professional bodies which include Nigeria Association of Teachers of Technology and Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria. Dr Olaoye Ajiboye Ojo participated in many conferences / seminars and workshops. He has published many papers in reputable/learned journals which include Pre-vocational, Pre-technical and Pre-professional: Basic tools for vocational technical Education and training. This paper is a bone of contention among the academics in academia education. Other publications include effects of AutoCAD on the performance of secondary school students in basic technology in Ado local government area of Ekiti State, vocametric analysis of the efficiency of woodworkers’ in sawmill industries for optimum production, difficulties in teaching technical drawing curriculum in secondary schools as perceived by technical teachers, measures for planning and organization of wood processing  activities in industries to eliminate hazards and financial rewards and teachers job commitment to school goals and objectives in private secondary schools in Ado local government  area of Ekiti State among others.

  • Christian Junior Ayodele, Department of Guidance and Counselling, Faculty of Education, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

    Dr. Ayodele, Christian Junior is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Guidance and Counselling, Faculty of Education, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria. After his secondary school education, He proceeded to obtain the following degrees: B.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling in 1997, from Ondo State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria; Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Management in 2000, from the University of Ado Ekiti, Nigeria; Master in Business Administration in 2002, from the University of Ado Ekiti, Nigeria; M.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling in 2005, from the University of Ado Ekiti, Nigeria; Ph. D in Guidance and Counseling in 2015, from Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria. He has taught many courses and supervised many research students both at UG /PG levels. He has attended many conferences/ seminars/ workshops locally and internationally. He is a member of many professional bodies as Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Counseling Association of Nigeria, European Centre for Research Training and Development, UK among others. He has carried out researches in the area of mental health, which is his area of specialization, and has equally published in reputable learned journals, locally and internationally. No doubt his researches are continuously enriching education/ research fraternity.

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Published

2023-08-10

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 9 (2023)

Section

Articles

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