Impact of Environmental Education On the Knowledge and Attitude of Students Towards the Environment

Abstract

Environmentally aware and empowered youths are potentially the greatest agent of change for the long term protection and stewardship of the environment. Thus environmental education which promotes such change will enable these youths to have a greater voice on environmental issue if effectively implemented in Nigeria. Hence, this study was conducted to assess students’ level of knowledge and attitude towards the environment. The survey was conducted on 130 respondents who were full time students of environmental education in a federal university in Edo state, Nigeria. The result revealed that high level of knowledge and positive attitude towards the environment among the students. Also it was observed that the relationship between their knowledge and attitude towards the environment is a negative, little or no relationship. Therefore, it was concluded that environmental literate students especially in tertiary institutions are being nurtured to foster EE in Nigeria. Thus the researchers recommend that more needs to be done to promote and encourage EE at all levels in the country especially by the government and its agency to ensure effective implementation; nongovernmental organizations and international bodies all have a role to play in the country sustainable development goals.