From exploration of Filipino learners' environmental awareness, attitude and practices to formulation of a policy brief

Abstract

This quantitative descriptive-correlational research determined the level of environmental awareness, environmental attitude, and environmental practices of Grade 12 STEM learners using a Likert scale survey questionnaire. This study also examined the correlation of the environmental awareness, environmental attitude, and environmental practices of learners. Seventy-three (73) Grade 12 STEM learners from a public school in Lambunao, Iloilo, Philippines participated in the study during the first quarter of the academic year 2023-2024. This research utilized two adopted survey instruments to measure the level of environmental awareness, attitude, and practices of learners. The statistical tools employed were mean and standard deviation for descriptive data analysis and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (r) for inferential analysis set at 0.05 level of significance. The results showed that the Grade 12 STEM learners have a high level of environmental awareness for both awareness of environmental concepts and the state of the environment and awareness of environmental issues and problems (M=3.45, SD=0.98), high level of environmental attitude or positive attitude (M=3.74, SD=0.93) and a fair level from both practices that needed to be taken into actions to solve environmental problems as well as from practices that are needed to possess a high degree of commitment (M=3.11, SD=1.05).For the relationship between environmental awareness and attitude, environmental attitude and practices, and environmental awareness and practices, Pearson product moment correlation was utilized in the study. There is a weak negative correlation between environmental awareness and attitude (r=-.121, p=.3O8), significant moderate positive correlation between environmental awareness and practices (r= .465, p=.000), and a very weak positive correlation between environmental attitude and practices (r=.15O, p=.2O7). The policy brief formulated based from the findings recommended specifically on the integration of 5Cs learning skills especially in Science subject as it supports the DepEd Order no. 52, series of 2011 entitled, "Strengthening Environmental Education in Public and Private Schools". This DepEd Order mandates all schools to intensify lessons regarding the environment on all Science subjects, use environmental concerns as tools for classroom drills, discussions and activities, and integrate these concerns in related learning areas.