Environmental Education Based on Local Values: Its Integration in the Indonesian Elementary School Curriculum

Abstract

Environmental Awareness is a necessity for all age groups, including elementary school students. Proper understanding of ecological issues requires earlier initiation and introduction of students to local-based content. This paper aims to describe the need to integrate the environmental problems based on local wisdom within the elementary school curriculum. The authors seek to guide education planners in Indonesia on how to incorporate environmental issues based on local values or local content in specific subject content for proper awareness creation among the elementary school students. The target is to address gaps in the teaching of environmental education in primary schools across the archipelago. Elementary school students are the future citizens, whose understanding of how the environment works from a localized perspective will help bring about better future environmental management. The study used a survey method, applying two clusters of random sampling techniques. It was conducted in selected elementary schools around Bandung, the capital city of the West Java Province, Indonesia. To collect data, structured questionnaires were used to examine. Later, data was analyzed using simple statistical methods, drawing inferences and descriptive analytics. Conclusively, this study established that specific environmental education themes based on local values and local content need to be included in the elementary school curriculum for more clarity and understanding of topics. The suggested thematic topics should comprise of issues related to overcoming environmental pollution; preventing global warming; wise use of the environment flora and fauna, and appropriate values needed for ecological conservation and sustainability.