ABSTRACT
The school environment plays an important role and is critical in developing environmentally aware and ecologically conscious students. This descriptive-correlational study sought to measure the level of awareness and practices of six hundred forty – nine Humanities and Social Science students of Dr. Juan A. Pastor Integrated National High School. This research study discusses the idea of ecological awareness and practices of HUMSS (Humanities and Social Science) students in Dr. Juan A. Pastor Integrated National High School and how it can be embedded in the design and planning process. Ecological awareness is increasingly recognized as crucial in combating environmental issues. Humanities and Social Science (HUMSS) students, as future leaders and professionals are expected to have a solid understanding of ecological principles and sustainable practices. This study aims to assess the level of ecological awareness and practices among HUMSS students at Dr. Juan A. Pastor Integrated National High School.
Findings revealed that the HUMSS students are aware of environmental concepts and the state of the environment and environmental issues and problems. They often practice taking action to solve environmental problems and sometimes practice the need to possess a high degree of commitment. The study found that there is a moderate correlation between students’ awareness of environmental concepts and issues and their practices to solve environmental problems and possess a high degree of commitment. The study recommends that information dissemination programs regarding environmental concepts, state of the environment, ecological issues, and problems could be sustained by the school to keep the ecological awareness of the students high. Environmental advocacy and eco-movement may likewise be institutionalized in the school through student organizations like YES-O, SSLG, and CESC students. The crafted ecological management plan is recommended for implementation to increase the degree of commitment of students toward ecological conservation.
Keywords: ecological, enhancement, awareness, practices, management plan, descriptive correlation
I. Context and Rationale
Nowadays, we are constantly experiencing extreme weather conditions and rising global temperatures. It has been reviewed that thousands of research studies enumerated actions we can take to lower energy demand and improve our energy systems and land use in industry, buildings, transportation, and materials and waste management, in both urban and rural areas. The report discusses the need for avoiding greenhouse gas emissions and removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
In today’s globalization, we face a lot of societal change including dilemmas pertaining to the environment. Ecological enhancement, awareness, and practices find a way to lessen the dilemma of societal upheaval. The challenge for every student is to take the wheel of action and move towards a common cause in preserving life and the environment. This study aims to enhance ecological awareness and practices of Humanities and Social Science students and to develop active environmentalism among the students of Dr. Juan A. Pastor Integrated National High School. Dr. Juan A. Pastor Integrated National High School has become one of the fastest-progressing schools in the Ibaan District, in addressing its environmental issues and improving its environmental quality.
The growing concern with environmental issues and their impact on ecological awareness and practices has made it the most noticeable phenomenon of the last two decades (Sivamoorthy, Nalini & Satheesh Kumar, 2019). The rapid depletion of the earth’s natural resources and the fast-degrading environment are realities that can no longer be denied. These are the grave scenarios that threaten the existence of both man and the earth (Marpa & Juele, 2020).
In the Philippines, the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and other relevant agencies, in consultation with experts on the environment and the academe, lead the implementation of public education and awareness programs on environmental protection and conservation through collaborative interagency and multi-sectoral effort at all levels (RA 9512, 2008).
Furthermore, one of the objectives of this study is to develop students who are environmentally conscious and ecological-friendly. The month of June of each year is declared as the Philippine Environment Month by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 237 signed in 1998 by then President Corazon C. Aquino. During the celebration, various important events are being celebrated such as World Environment Day on June 5, Philippine Eagle Week on June 4-10, and Philippine Arbor Day on June 25 (Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2016).
Various studies have been conducted to gauge the environmental awareness and practices of students in various levels. In the Philippines, studies focused on the environmental awareness and practices of high school students as the basis for disaster preparedness programs (Marpa & Juele, 2016), the level of awareness and extent of practices in green technology of college students (Gonzaga, 2016), and the environmental awareness of the graduating college students (Garcia & Luansing, 2016).
While almost all of the previous studies conducted were focused only in describing the extent of environmental awareness and practices of the students, the present study looked into the ecological awareness and practices of Humanities and Social Science students in Dr. Juan A. Pastor Integrated National High School as an input in crafting a proposed ecological management plan.
see PDF attachment for more information