Effectiveness of environmental education implementation in promoting participation in sustainable solid waste management Behaviours among the grade 12 pupils of the Zambia’s Chipata City

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate Environmental Education (EE) effectiveness in promoting sustainable solid waste management behaviours (SSWMBs) among pupils of the Zambia’s Chipata City using Kirkpatrick’s evaluation model in order to ascertain progress, provide feedback on the level of achievement of promoting SSWMBs among pupils as outlined in the Zambian Biology school syllabus and to suggest areas of improvement to the continued EE implementation in Zambian schools. The study was based on cross-sectional exploratory case study design and it used quantitative approach. Quantitative data was collected using a survey questionnaire from 367 randomly selected Grade 12 school pupils from the 4 purposively selected secondary schools of the Zambia’s Chipata City. The study results revealed low levels of effectiveness of environmental education implementation in promoting SSWMBs among Grade 12 pupils of Chipata City, Zambia as only about a third of pupils were currently regularly participating in SSWMBs and the mean for pupil participation in each SSWMBs was less than 3, the mid- point score on a five point frequency score. The results imply that there were a number of barriers to promoting wide adoption of SSWMBs. To enhance the effectiveness of EE implementation in schools, barriers to wide adoption of SSWMBs need to be overcome while the required drivers such as making waste management infrastructure available in accessible locations and incentivising waste management behaviours needed to be put in place. The study recommends in-service training of teachers for them to be competent in the use of pedagogical approaches that would enhance pupils’ technical know-how, experience, skills and deeper understanding of SSWMBs during EE lessons.