Effects of School-based Environmental Clubs: Fostering Environmental Awareness and Strengthening Eco-citizen Behaviors Among Students

Abstract

Objective: Given the concerning environmental state on a global scale and also in Morocco, environmental education becomes imperative to contribute to the desired change towards more sustainable and responsible practices. In this context, environmental clubs, as a form of environmental education, particularly catch our attention due to their potential to raise awareness and mobilize the younger generation. Consequently, the aim of this research was to assess the impact of environmental clubs on students' environmental awareness and the adoption of eco-citizen behaviors.   Method: In the context of our study, we adopted a quantitative research approach to objectively analyze the impact of environmental clubs on students' environmental awareness and adoption of eco-citizen behaviors. To carry out this analysis, we utilized the Propensity Score Matching method to control for selection biases and ensure a valid comparison between students who participated and those who did not participate in the environmental clubs. Our sample consisted of 255 students in the control group and 241 students in the treatment group. Data were collected using a questionnaire focused on assessing environmental awareness and the adoption of eco-citizen behaviors. This data was then processed and analyzed using the SPSS software, allowing us to obtain statistically reliable and relevant results.   Results: The comparison of scores between the two groups revealed a notable difference. Indeed, participating students displayed higher scores, whether in the "awareness" aspect or in the "eco-citizen behavior" aspect. Furthermore, when comparing the means using the t-test for independent samples, we observed significant results. Consequently, we reject the null hypothesis, indicating that the observed difference is not due to chance but rather reflects a genuine effect of the environmental clubs on students' awareness and eco-citizen behaviors.   Conclusions: In the present study, we concluded that environmental clubs have a positive impact on students' environmental awareness and also contribute to the adoption of eco-citizen behaviors. These findings highlight the significance and relevance of these clubs in the educational context. Therefore, it is imperative to take further action to strengthen and generalize the presence and efficacy of these environmental clubs in educational institutions, with the aim of fostering a generation that is both aware and proactive regarding environmental challenges.