Analysis and assessment of the environmental awareness of primary school pupils on the management and sustainable use of water

Abstract

Water care and aquatic ecosystems play a fundamental role in the health and sustainable development of our society. From this perspective, education and water culture are key elements for increasing environmental awareness of the socio-environmental problems and risks associated with the sustainable use and management of water resources. The aim of this study is ascertain the level of environmental awareness that primary school students have about the management and uses of water. A mixed sequential exploratory design is proposed, which is developed in two research phases. An initial phase of qualitative data collection and analysis; and a subsequent complementary phase of quantitative data gathering and analysis. The results of this research show the low levels of environmental awareness on the part of students regarding the uses, management and socio-environmental problems related to water. In addition, they tend to conceive of water uses from a direct and proximate perspective, based on food, health and hygiene. The conclusions of this study suggest the need to approach the contents of water from a broader perspective, considering the causes and consequences of the problems arising from poor water use and management