D.Ed. (Environmental Education) / The urgency of the issues concerning man's relationship to the natural environment is confirmed by the large-scale publicity given these issues in the media. This has resulted in a general public awareness of environmental issues, which is presently reflected by numerous efforts to further stimulate positive interest in conservation, responsible utilisation of natural resources as well as sustainable living. Environmental education is the component of education that informs and makes people aware of their immediate environments. Although the principles and guidelines are set according to international standards, this issue should urgently and visibly be instilled in the South African society in order for it to become part of the life-style, value system, social system and education of South Africans in order to develop and promote environmentally literate individuals. During the past 12 years a process of transformation affected all spheres of South African society, including education and training. An outcomes-based curriculum (Curriculum 2005) has already seen many changes and at present a National Curriculum Statement is in place. It is important for learners to acquire environmental literacy (knowledge, skills, attitudes and values), as without concerted efforts at life-long learning for sustainability, South Africa will not be able to become a competitive power in the world, but will face problems regarding sustainable utilisation of natural resources. This in turn can be to the detriment of ensuring sustainability for future generations. It is generally accepted that the next generation of decision makers should be better equipped to not only face environmental issues and problems, but through the process of education, future generations should appreciate their environment and utilise and manage it responsibly in order to enable them to provide solutions with a systematic ecological view of sustainability. In order to ensure success in this regard, educators in all school phases will need to accept the responsibility of applying the principles of environmental education and aspects regarding the environment as indicated in the learning outcomes and assessment standards of the National Curriculum Statement. In order for this to be successfully implemented, student educators should be thoroughly trained to present environmental education in schools. This does not only imply a broadening of educators' knowledge base, but especially the establishment and improvement of their own level of environmental literacy. Only then will educators be in a position to realise the principles as indicated in the White Paper on environmental education. With the environment or aspects of the environment described in the learning outcomes and/or assessment standards of the National Curriculum Statement, it is clear that environmental education will re-emphasise classic educational principles aimed at encouraging positive learner attitudes towards the environment. These attitudes can be defined in terms such as responsibility, concern, inclination towards conservation and sustainability, and awareness and respect for creation. It is clear that some basic aspects of environmental literacy should be investigated in teacher training programmes. A cognitive component has long been accepted as a prerequisite for the existence of any particular attitude while a personal value system is also important...
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:11754 |
| Date | 23 July 2014 |
| Creators | Beukes, Lukas Daniel |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Johannesburg |
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