ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS, ATTITUDES, AND BEHAVIOUR OF PRESERVICE PRESCHOOL AND PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS

Abstract

Environmental education represents an important factor in solving environmental issues and teachers have an important role in developing the environmental literacy of future generations. The aim of the present research was to assess and compare preservice preschool and primary school teachers’ environmental awareness, attitudes, and behaviour, as well as their opinions about environmental education. The research was carried out with 152 Slovenian preservice teachers of the Faculty of Education, University of Primorska. The data were collected using a questionnaire. Results showed that students have a relatively high level of environmental awareness and mostly demonstrated a positive attitude towards nature and its protection. Students highlighted the importance of environmental education in early childhood. The research showed no significant differences in the responses of students of both programmes in general, which indicates that the course contents have a less significant influence on students’ awareness, behaviour, and attitudes. According to the findings, there is a need for an improved course within the teacher training programme, especially with the implementation of more innovative teaching methods and activities to increase students’ environmental literacy. Keywords: environmental attitudes, environmental behaviour, environmental awareness, preschool education, primary school education, university students