ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS, ATTITUDE AND PARTICIPATION AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF KASARANI AND KIBERA DIVISIONS, NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA. BY KIPROTICH VICTOR BOIYO N50/CTY/PT/24585/2010 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE (ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION) IN THE SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES OF KENYATTA UNIVERSITY APRIL, 2014 DECLARATION This thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other university. Signature…………………………………. Date: ……………………………… Kiprotich Victor Boiyo REG. NO.: N50/CTY/PT/24585/2010 Department of Environmental Education Supervisors’ Declaration We confirm that this thesis is submitted for examination with our approval as the University Supervisors. Signature:………………………………….Date: ………………………………….. Amb. Prof. Michael K. Koech Department of Environmental Education Kenyatta University Signature: ……………………………… Date: ………………………………… Dr. Daniel G. Mang’uriu Department of Environmental Education Kenyatta University ii DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my parents Boiyo and Cheruiyot and my fiancé Eddah. iii ACKNOWLDGEMENTS It would not have been possible to write this thesis without the help and support of people around me, only some of whom it is possible to give particular mention here. Above all, I would like to thank God Almighty, for life, strength and provision to come this far. My parents, brothers and sisters have given me their unequivocal support throughout this period. I sincerely thank the administration, teaching staff, and students who participated in the study. This thesis would not have been possible without the help and support of supervisors, Amb. Prof. Michael Koech and Dr. Daniel Mang’uriu. Their good advice and technical guidance have been invaluable in accomplishing this work. On this note, I sincerely thank the entire Kenyatta University fraternity for allowing me to study for my master’s degree at the university. I would like to acknowledge the support of the Zetech College for their support during the period of my study. Their technical and moral guidandance has been tremendous not to mention the Principal Prof. Wamukoya and Dr. Hilda Gesare. God bless you all. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Declaration..……………………………………………………………………...…..ii Dedication…..…...…………………………………..…………………………..…..iii Acknowledgements……………………………………….…………………………iv Table of Contents……………………………………………………………………..v List of Tables………..…………………………………………………………….....ix List of Figures………..…………………………………………………………........x Abbreviations and Acronyms………………………………………………….…...xi Abstract………………...…………………………………………………………..xii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………...1 1.2 Background to the Problem ………………….……………………………….1 1.3 Statement of the Problem……………….…………………...………………..3 1.4 Research Questions….………………………….……………...……………..4 1.5 Research Objectives…………………………….……………...……………..5 1.6 Research Hypotheses………………………….………………...…………....5 1.7 Justification of the Study……………………………………………………...6 1.8 Scope of the Study………………………………………………...………….7 1.9 Assumptions of the Study………………………………………...………......7 1.10 Limitations of the Study…………………………………………...……..…..7 1.11 Summary ……………………………………………………………………..7 1.12 Definition of Terms ………..………………………………………………..8 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Introduction…………………….…………………………………………….10 2.2 Environmental Challenges ……..…………………………..……………..…10 2.3 Environmental Challenges in Urban Centers……………...…………...….…11 2.4 EE as a Tool for Environmental Management………………….…...………14 2.5 Brief History of EE…………………………………………….……...……..15 v 2.6 Objectives of EE……………………………………………….……...……..16 2.6.1 Environmental Awareness……………………………….……...…..17 2.6.2 Environmental Attitude… ………………………………………….19 2.6.3 Participation in Environmental Activities……………...……...........21 2.7 Environmental Education in Secondary School….……………………...….22 2.8 Summary…………………………………………….……………………….24 CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY 3.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………..26 3.2 Study Area.....…………………………………………………………...…...26 3.2.1 Kasarani Division……………………………………………...……28 3.2.2 Kibera Division…………………………………………………...…28 3.3 Study Variables………………………………….…………………………..28 3.4 Study Population and Sampling Procedures……..……………………..........29 3.4.1 Sample Size…………………………..……………………………..29 3.5 Study Design and Instrumentation………………….………………..............29 3.5.1 Primary Data………………………….………………………..........30 3.5.2 Secondary Data……………………………………………………...30 3.5.3 Piloting………………………………………………………………30 3.5.4 Validity and Reliability……………….………..................................30 3.6 Data Analysis……………………………………….…………………..........31 3.6.1 Analysis of Variance………………………………………...............31 3.7 Logical and Ethical Consideration………………….……………...……......32 3.8 Summary…………………………………………….……………………....32 CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 4.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………..33 4.2 Gender of Respondents………………………………………………...…...33 4.3 Level of Environmental Awareness……………………………………….....35 4.3.1 Level of Aware of Environmental Concepts………………………..36 vi 4.3.2 Level of Awareness of Environmental Problems…………...............41 4.3.3 Institutions of Environmental Management………………………...46 4.4 Environmental Attitudes………………………….………………….............49 4.4.1 Importance of EE……………………………………………….…...49 4.4.2 Cleanliness…………………………………………………...……...50 4.4.3 Personal Responsibility…………………………………………......52 4.4.4 Conservation………………………………………………………...55 4.4.5 Social Responsibility………………………………………..………59 4.5 Participation in Environmental Activities…………………..………………..63 4.5.1 Waste Management………………………........................................63 4.5.2 Participation and Personal Responsibility………………...…..…….64 4.5.3 Tree Planting and Clean Up Initiatives……………………………...66 4.5.4 Club Activities………………………………………………………67 4.6 Summary...…………………………………...………………………………73 CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 5.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………..…74 5.2 Major Findings……………………………...………………………………..74 5.2.1 Environmental Awareness……………………………………..........74 5.2.2 Environmental Attitude……………………………………………..75 5.2.3 Participation in Environmental Activities…………………………..76 5.3 Recommendations…………………………………………………………...76 5.3.1 Environmental Awareness……………………………………..........77 5.3.2 Environmental Attitude……………………………………………..78 5.3.3 Participation in Environmental Activities…………………………..79 5.4 Suggestions for Further Research…………………………………………....80 5.5 Summary……………………………………………………………………..81 REFERENCES…………………………………...……………………………......81 APPENDICES Appendix I: Research Study Questionnaire………………………………......……..87 vii Appendix II: Administrative Boundaries of Nairobi County…..…………………...91 Appendix III: Letter to the Principals……….………………………………………92 viii LIST OF TABLES Table 4.1: Gender of the Respondents………………………………………….34 Table 4.2: Students’ Awareness of Their role in Conservation….………….….35 Table 4.3: Students’ level of Awareness of the Concept Environment………...36 Table 4.4: Students’ level of Awareness of Environmental Concepts……….....38 Table 4:5: ANOVA of the level of Awareness of Environmental Concepts…...41 Table 4.6: Students’ Level of Awareness of Environmental Problems…….….44 Table 4.7: ANOVA of the Level of Awareness of Environmental Problems….45 Table 4.8: Awareness of Institutions of Environmental Management…………47 Table 4.9: Students’ Attitude on the Importance of EE in Schools….................49 Table 4.10: Students’ Attitude towards Cleanliness…………………………..…51 Table 4.11: Students’ Personal Responsibility on Environmental Issues ……….53 Table 4.12: Attitude on Making Donations for Environmental Conservation…...54 Table 4.13: Attitudes on Conservation of Natural Resources…….……………...56 Table 4.14: Attitude on environment and Social Responsibility………...………59 Table 4.15: ANOVA of environmental attitudes among students in Kasarani and Kibera...........................................................................62 Table 4.16: Students’ Participation in waste management……………………....63 Table 4.17: Personal Responsibility and Environmental Participation………….65 Table 4.18: Participation in Tree Planting and Clean up Initiatives…….……….66 Table 4.19: Club Membership ……………………………………….….………68 Table 4.20: Participation in Club Activities…………..…………………………70 Table 4.21: ANOVA on the level of Environmental Participation …………….73 ix LIST OF FIGURES Figure 3.1: Map of the Study Area………………………………………………27 Figure 4.1: Students’ Level of Awareness of the Concept Environment………..37 Figure 4.2: Students’ Attitude on the Importance of EE…………………….......50 Figure 4.3: Club membership of students in Kasarani Division…………...…....68 Figure 4.4: Club membership of students in Kibera Division……………….......68 Figure 4.4: Students’ Participation in Club Activities…………………………..71 x ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ANOVA : Analysis of Variance CBS : Central Bureaus of Statistics DESD : Decade for Education for Sustainable Development EE : Environmental Education ESD : Education for Sustainable Development EMCA : Environmental Management and Coordination Act IEEP : International Environmental Education Programme IUCN : International Union for Conservation of Nature KIE : Kenya Institute of Education NAAEE : North America Association for Environmental Education NEAP : National Environmental Action Plan NES : National Environmental Secretariat OECD : Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development SD : Sustainable Development SPSS : Statistical Packages for Social Sciences UN : United Nations UNFPA : United Nations Population Fund UNCED : United Nations Conference