Mahat HANIFAH, İdrus SHAHARUDIN, Hashim MOHMADISA, Nayan NASIR, Saleh YAZID

2832

Transforming Sustainability Development Education in Malaysian Schools through Greening Activities

Transforming Sustainability Development Education in Malaysian Schools through Greening Activities

 This article aims to evaluate the practice of sustainability among Malaysian Secondary Schools involved in the Sustainable Schools Program Environmental Award (SLAAS). The research attempts to identify the SLAAS effects on teachers’ and students’ behaviors after direct involvement with the activities of the program. The cluster sampling technique was used in selecting the school samples and the respondents were then also selected through simple random sampling among upper secondary pupils. A questionnaire survey was administered for 247 teachers and 447 pupils, to evaluate the after effects of the SLAAS. Document analysis was employed to identify the greening activities that were carried out in the schools involved. The results showed that the schools’ involvement in SLAAS had some transformative effect on the schools especially on greening activities and also on sustainable behavior within the school compound. Based on the correlation analysis, it showed that there was a significant correlation between the knowledge about SLAAS program and the behavior of the teachers and similarly, it was also found that the significant correlation between the knowledge of the SLAAS and the behavior of the pupils post SLAAS. Hence SLAAS must be continuously deployed in school outdoor activities on greening efforts to educate pupils to sustain environmental quality. It is suggested that teachers should play the role model of sustainability, not only for the pupils but also for the public.
Keywords:

education for sustainable development, program of sustainable schools, greening activities, behavioral changes, sustainable activities,

PDF

___

  • Abdul Ghani, A., & Aziah, I. (2007). Readiness to strengthen education sustainable development by the manager of school education: A case study. Journal of Educational Management and Leadership, 17(1). Retrieved from http://www.iab.edu.my/jurnal.php
  • Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned bahaviour. Organization Behaviour and Human Decision Processes, 50, 179–211.
  • Aini, M., & Laily, P. (2010). Preparedness of Malaysian pre-school educators for environmental education. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities, 18(2), 271–283.
  • Aini, M.S., Laily, P., & Sharifah Azizah, H. (2009). Relevance between value, attitude prosocial behaviour and lifestyle. In. M.S.Aini, & H.Sharifah Azizah, & H.P.Laily, (Eds.), Sustainable Consumption: Between Reality and challenges (pp. 130–150). Serdang: Universiti Putra Malaysia.
  • Aini, M.S, Nurizan, Y., & Fakhru’l-Razi, A. (2007). Environmental comprehension and participation of Malaysian secondary school students. Environmental Education Research, 13(1), 17–31.
  • Arba’at, Kamsiah, O., & Susan, P. (2009). The adults non formal environment education (EE) : A scenario in Sabah, Malaysia. World Conference on Educational Sciences 2009. Bangi: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
  • Barr, S., Ford, N. J., & Gilg, A. W. (2003). Attitudes towards recycling household waste in Exeter, Devon: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Local Environment, 8(4), 407–421.
  • Bernardino, C. S. (2000). Exploring education for sustainable development: Theory and Practice of ILS in Philippine Higher Education Institutions. University of Alberta.
  • Berglund, T., Gericke, N. & Rundgren, C.S.N. (2014). The implementation of education for sustainable development in Sweden: Investigating the sustainability consciousness among upper secondary students. Research in Science and Technology, 32(2), 318-339.
  • Bhattacherjee, A. (2012). Social science research: Principles, methods and practices. Florida. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/oa_textbooks/3
  • Department of Environment, Ministry of Education & Institute of Environment and Development (LESTARI), (2012a). Basic Formation of Sustainable School Award for the Environment. Putrajaya: Department of Environment.
  • Department of Environment, Ministry of Education & Institute of Environment and Development (LESTARI), (2012b). Guideline implementation and evaluation of the Sustainable School Environment Award. Putrajaya: Department of Environment.
  • Dimitrova, E. (2014). The “sustainable development” concept in urban planning education: Lessons learned on a Bulgarian path. Journal of Cleaner Production, 62, 120–127.
  • Doost, H. K., Sanusi, Z., Fariddudin, F., & Jegatesan, G. (2011). Institutions of higher education and partnerships in education for sustainable development: Case study of the regional centre of expertise (RCE) Penang, Malaysia. Journal of Sustainable Development, 4(3), 108–117.
  • Fatimah, H., Norliza, S. & Salhayatin, S. (2011). Income generation and student innovation in environmental education: An Introduction. The 3rd National Convention Geography and Environment working paper. Organised by Geography and Environmental Department, Faculty of Humanities Sciences, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Tanjong Malim, Perak, 8-10 February.
  • Fielding, K.S, & Head. B.W. (2012). Determinants of young Australians’ environmental actions: The role of responsibility attributions, locus of control, knowledge and attitudes. Environmental Education Research, 18(2), 171–186.
  • Firth, R., & Smith, M. (2013). As the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development comes to an end: what has it achieved and what are the ways forward? The Curriculum Journal, 24(2), 169–180.
  • Fishbein, M. & Ajzen, I. (1975). Belief, attitude, intention and behavior: An introduction to theory and research. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
  • Foo, K.Y. (2013) A vision on the role of environmental higher education contributing to the sustainable development in Malaysia. Journal of Cleaner Production, 61, 6-12. Gough, A. (2005). Education for sustainable development: Challenges for schools, curriculum and instruction. JPPG Education Conference, 28-30 August, the Shangri-La Hotel, Penang.
  • Hazura, A. B. (2009). Relationship between religious devotion, epistomoly and Muslim student environmental knowledge and attitude and behaviour towards environment.Thesis PhD, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
  • Heneger, E. (2005). Environmental education: A look at its purpose, methods and effectiveness. Retieved from http://web.centre.edu/estudies/Capstone Projects/ENS Henegar 2005.pdf
  • Hopkins, C. & McKeown, R. (2002). Environment education for sustainability: Responding to the global challenges. In. D.Tilbury, R.B.Stevenson, J. Fien, & Schreuder (Eds.), Education and sustainability: Responding to the global challenge, (pp 13-24) Cambridge: IUCN (World Conservation Union).
  • Huckle, J. (2013). Eco-schooling and sustainability citizenship: Exploring issues raised by corporate sponsorship. The Curriculum Journal, 24(2), 206–223.
  • Department of Environment, Ministry of Education Malaysia & Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI). (2012b). Guideline for implementation and evaluation Sustainable School Environment Award (3rd.). Putrajaya: Environment Department.
  • Joshi, U. (2009). Education for sustainable development-The Role of University. International Forum of Teaching and Studies Marietta, 5(1), 62–69. Retrieved from http://www.americanscholarspress.com/content/IFOTS-One-2009.pdf
  • Lampa, I., Greculescu, A., & Todorescu, L.-L. (2013). Education for sustainable development – Training the young generation for the Future. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 78(120-124).
  • Liu, J. (2009). Education for sustainable development in teacher education: Issues in the case of York University in Canada. Asian Social Science, 5 (5), 46-49.
  • Mageswary, K., Zurida, I. & Norita, M. (2013). Pre-service teachers' understanding and awareness of sustainable development concepts and traditional environmental concepts. Asia Pacific Journal of Educators and Education, 28, 117–130.
  • Ministry Of Education Malaysia (1998) Handbook of Environmental Education Teachers across the Curriculum KBSR & KBSM. Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Education Ministry.
  • Ministry of Sciences, Technology and Innovation. (2002). National Environmental Policy.Putrajaya: Science Technology and Environment Ministry.
  • Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Malaysia, (2010). National Policy On Climate Change. Putrajaya: Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Malaysia
  • Malaysia.(1976). Third Malaysia Plan (1976-1980).
  • Malaysia.(2006). Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006-2010).
  • Malaysia.(2011).Tenth Malaysia Plan (2011-2015).
  • McKeown, R. (2002). Education for sustainable development. Retrieved from http://www.esdtoolkit.org
  • Mohammad Zohir, A. (2009). Environmental education application in the teaching of Geography in secondary school: knowledge, efficacy attitude and teacher pactice Malaysia. Thesis PhD, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
  • Mohammad Zohir, A., & Sharifah Norhaidah, S. I. (2005). Preparation of trainee teachers from University of Science in handling issues of sustainable development. Proceeding of National Technology, Malaysia.Seminar JPPG, Kuala Lumpur. 28-30 August.
  • Mohmadisa, H. & Mohamad Suhaily Yusry, C. N. (2005). Development and environment in Malaysia.Tanjung Malim: Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris.
  • Moroye, C. (2005). Common ground : An ecological Perspective on teaching and learning. Curriculum and Teaching Dialogue, 7(1/2), 123–139.
  • Mumtazah, O., & Norhafidah, A. (2009). How is school youth sustainable consumption practice? Malaysia Consumer Journal, 13, 30-45. Norlia, A. (2011). Sustainable consumption practices among secondary school teachers in Puchong Selangor.Masters Thesis, Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
  • Nor Aznan, M., Lilia, H., & Arbaat, H. (2010). Environmental education evaluation towards environmental literacy among IPGM trainee teachers. Graduates Research Seminar Proceeding. Volume 1 (1)
  • Pallant, J. (2010). A step by step guide to data analysis using the SPSS Program (4th. ed.). Australia: Mc Graw-Hill.
  • Pe’er, S., Goldman, D., & Yavetz, B. (2007). Environmental literacy in teacher training: Attitudes, knowledges and environmental bahavior of begining students. The Journal of Enviromental Education, 39(1), 45–59.
  • Sabitha, M. (2006). Social science research: Pragmatic approach. Batu Caves, Selangor: Edusystem Sdn. Bhd.
  • Saravanan, Rosta, H., & Ahmad, M. (2013). Sustainable consumption practices among form four students in Kluang Johore district. 4th National Convention for Geography and Environment. (pp. 169–180). Tanjung Malim: Department of Geography and Environment, Humanities Faculty, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, 5-6 March.
  • Scoullos, M., & Malotidi, V. (2004). Handbook on methods used in environmental education and education. Athens: MIO-ECSDE. Retrieved from http://www.medies.net/_ uploaded_files/publications/HANDBOOK._ENGpdf.pdf
  • Shaharudin, I. (2011). Providing pathway to sustainable education. Berita Harian, 7, 2 Intellectual Mind Column
  • Sterling, S. (2003). Whole systems thinking as a basis for paradigm change in education: Explorations in the context of sustainability. Thesis Ph.D, University of Bath. http://www.bath.ac.uk/cree/sterling/sterlingthesis.pdf
  • Summers, M., Corney, G., & Childs, A. (2003). Teaching sustainable development in primary schools: An empirical study of issues for teachers. Environmental Education Research, 9(3), 327–346.
  • UNESCO. (2002). Education for Sustainable Development. Retrieved from http://www.unesco. org/en/esd/ [June 5 2012].
  • UNESCO. (2007). The UN Decade for Education for SustainableDevelopment (DESD 2005–2014): the first two years. Paris: UNESCO Publishing.
  • UNESCO. (2010). Education for Sustainable Development. Retrieved from http://www.unesco. org/ education/desd: [12 Mei 2011]
  • United Nations. (1992). Agenda 21. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/agenda21/ index.shtml [12 Mei 2011.
Review of International Geographical Education Online-Cover
  • ISSN: 2146-0353
  • Başlangıç: 2011
  • Yayıncı: Eyüp ARTVİNLİ
Arşiv
Sayıdaki Diğer Makaleler

Islamophobia in America: The Anatomy of Intolerance

Scott L. WALKER

Global Education or How to Most Effectively Implement Cross-Disciplinary Themes in the Curriculum of Primary School–Czechia´s Example

Petra KARVÁNKOVÁ, Dagmar POPJAKOVÁ, Vlasta KOVAŘÍKOVÁ

Using a Social Web 2.0 Tool in Geography and Environmental Research Project: A Content Analysis of Greek High School Students’ Learning Exchanges

Evi EXARCHOU, Aikaterini KLONARI, Nikos LAMBRINOS

Transforming Sustainability Development Education in Malaysian Schools through Greening Activities

Mahat HANIFAH, İdrus SHAHARUDIN, Hashim MOHMADISA, Nayan NASIR, Saleh YAZID

Implementing Geographical Key Concepts: Design of a Symbiotic Teacher Training Course Based on Empirical and Theoretical Evidence

Janis FÖGELE, Rainer MEHREN

The Initial Training of Geography Teachers at the University of Porto: Model and Training, Practices and Representations

Felisbela MARTINS