Role of School Based Clubs in Addressing Environmental Threats in the Nile Basin, Case of Jinja District, Uganda
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ROLE OF SCHOOL BASED CLUBS IN ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS IN THE NILE BASIN, CASE OF JINJA DISTRICT, UGANDA BY NDERITU RUTH WANJIRU, B. ENV. (Sc) N50/11294/04 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES (AGROFORESTRY AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT) OF KENYATTA UNIVERSITY JUNE 2011 i DECLARATION This thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other University or for any other award. Signature ………………………… Date ……………………………....... Nderitu, Ruth Wanjiru Department of Environmental Science This thesis has been submitted for examination for the degree of Master of Environmental Studies (Agroforestry and Rural Development) with our approval as University supervisors; Signature ………………………....... Date……………………………….... Dr. Ndaruga, Ayub M. National Environment Management Authority, Kenya Signature …………………………… Date …………………………… Prof. Kungu, James B. Department of Environmental Science Kenyatta University ii DEDICATION Dedicated to my parents, Rev. and Mrs. William Nderitu Maina for moral support and good education iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I appreciate funding from Nile Transboundary Environmental Action Project (NTEAP) to study in Uganda and encouragement from Lily Kisaka and Charles from Kenya office and Maushe Kidundo, from Khartoum NTEAP Office. I acknowledge my supervisors Dr. Ayub Macharia of National Environment Management Authority, Prof. James Kungu of Kenyatta University and Dr. Daniel Babikwa, Makerere University for their support and encouragement. I appreciate officers in the Ministry of Education and Sports, Jinja for allowing me to carry out research, Chairman, Jinja Wildlife Society, Head teachers, patrons, students, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Ms Adimola, Director, Environmental Education Department and Monique for literature and moral support. My gratitude extends to Mr. and Mrs. Mutalya of Jinja Wildlife Society and Dr. Babikwa of Makerere University and their families for hospitality during my stay in Uganda and friends, relatives and colleagues who believed in me and gave me hope, such as Priscilla, Zippy, Felista, Muthoni, Esther, Manene, Joyce and Joshua. Finally, I wish to thank God for granting me grace and strength to finish this race. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ........................................................................................... I DEDICATION .............................................................................................. II ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................... III TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................. IV LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................ X LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................... XI LIST OF PLATES ....................................................................................... XII LIST OF MAPS ......................................................................................... XIII ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS .................................................. XIV ABSTRACT ............................................................................................... XVI 1.1 BACKGROUND ...........................................................................................1 1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM ..................................................................5 1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS ..............................................................................6 1.4 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES.............................................................................7 1.5 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY ...................................................................7 1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY ..................................................................9 1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS ............................................................................10 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW .....................................................13 2.1 NILE BASIN THREATS .............................................................................13 2.2 RATIONALE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL BASED CLUBS ..............................16 2.3 TYPES OF SCHOOL CLUBS .......................................................................18 v 2.4 ACTIVITIES AND METHODS USED BY SCHOOL BASED CLUBS .................19 2.5 NETWORKING/COLLABORATION .............................................................21 2.6 MAIN EFFORTS BY UGANDA GOVERNMENT TO CURB ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS ...........................................................................................22 2.7 SCHOOLS AS AGENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION .....................24 2.8 THE CONSTRAINTS FACED BY SECONDARY SCHOOL-BASED CLUBS .....27 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY ...............................................................31 3.1 STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION .....................................................................31 3.1.1 RELIEF FEATURES ................................................................................35 3.1.2 CLIMATE ..............................................................................................35 3.1.3 NUMBER OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS .....................................................36 3.2 THE STUDY POPULATION ........................................................................37 3.3 DATA SOURCES .......................................................................................37 3.3.1 PRIMARY DATA ....................................................................................37 3.3.2 SECONDARY DATA ...............................................................................39 3.4 SAMPLING AND SAMPLE DESIGN .............................................................39 3.4.1 SURVEY TYPE ......................................................................................41 3.4.2 RECONNAISSANCE SURVEY ..................................................................41 3.4.3 PRE-TESTING ........................................................................................41 3.4.4 SAMPLING ............................................................................................42 3.4.5 VARIABLES ASSESSED .........................................................................43 3.4.6 SAMPLE SIZE ........................................................................................43 3.5 DATA ANALYSIS ....................................................................................43 CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ...........................................44 vi 4.1 BACKGROUND OF THE RESPONDENTS .....................................................44 4.1.1 SCHOOLS INVOLVED IN THE STUDY .....................................................45 4.2 THE ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS AND USEFULNESS OF CLUBS IN ADDRESSING THREATS IN THE NILE BASIN, JINJA UGANDA ................45 4.2.1 ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS TO THE NILE BASIN ................................45 4.2.2.1 CREATE AWARENESS ........................................................................52 4.2.2.2 CONSERVATION ................................................................................54 4.2.2.3 WASTE MANAGEMENT ......................................................................55 4.2.2.4 FIELD TRIPS ......................................................................................56 4.2.2.5 TRAINING ..........................................................................................57 4.2.2.6 RESEARCH ON WATER QUALITY .......................................................57 4.3 TYPES AND NETWORKS OF SECONDARY SCHOOL-BASED CLUBS .......58 4.3.1 TYPES OF SCHOOL BASED CLUBS ........................................................58 4.3.1.1 SECONDARY SCHOOL BASED CLUBS INVOLVED IN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES ..........................................................................................59 4.3.2 NETWORKS ..........................................................................................63 4.3.2.1 NEIGHBOURING SCHOOLS .................................................................64 4.3.2.2 LOCAL COMMUNITY .........................................................................66 4.3.2.3 NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS) .............................67 4.3.2.4 GOVERNMENT ...................................................................................68 4.3.2.5 OTHER SCHOOL BASED CLUBS .........................................................69 4.3.3 ACTIVITIES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL BASED CLUBS ..............................70 4.3.3.1 THEORETICAL ACTIVITIES.................................................................72 4.3.3.2 THEORETICAL ACTIVITIES WITH STUDENT‟S PARTICIPATION ...........72 vii 4.3.3.3 PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES .....................................................................73 4.3.4 ROLE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL BASED CLUBS .....................................75 4.3.4.1 AWARENESS CREATION, KNOWLEDGE AND ACQUISITION OF SKILLS76 4.3.4.2 RELATIONSHIPS AND LEADERSHIP ....................................................77 4.3.4.3 TOURS/VISITS ...................................................................................77 4.3.4.4 CONSERVATION OF ENVIRONMENT ...................................................77 4.3.4.5 PROJECT DEVELOPMENT ...................................................................78 4.3.4.6 ADVOCACY .......................................................................................79