Environmental education (EE): current situational and the challenges among trainee teachers at teachers training institute in Malaysia

Abstract

Environmental Education (EE) increasingly promoted as a tool in environmental management. The importance of EE was highlighted in the National Policy on the Environment 2002-Green Strategies on “Education & Awareness”. Basically EE in Malaysia was taught in a type of formal and non-formal education. It was introduced in schools as Environmental Education Program (EEP), across curriculum at primary and secondary level. Related to that, EE was found as an important subject which must be known by the teachers prior to teach that subject indirectly in the classroom. Problems occurred while implementing EEP in schools such as; less knowledge about EE among teachers, thinking EEP as an extra burden for them to teach and etc. At Teachers Training Institute (TTI), EE is a compulsory subject due to complete their studies and it was fully monitored by Teacher Education Division (TED) which is apart of Ministry of Education. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to gather data and information. This article examines current situational; how the environmental education was conducted at TTI and the respond of lecturers about these particular subject. Part of that, challenges faced by lecturers were gathered too by an interview. At the same time, 100 respondent among Post-Graduate Teachers Training Course were surveyed to understand the level of EE knowledge among them. Set of questionnaires was distributed to particular respondents from Teacher Training Institute in Penang State, Malaysia. As a result, a few ideas and suggestions were identified for a better implementation towards a sustainable Institute.