Analysis and assessment of the environmental awareness of primary school pupils on the management and sustainable use of water

Abstract

Water care and aquatic ecosystems play a fundamental role in the health and sustainable development of our society. From this perspective, education and water culture are key elements for increasing environmental awareness of the socio-environmental problems and risks associated with the sustainable use and management of water resources. The aim of this study is ascertain the level of environmental awareness that primary school students have about the management and uses of water. A mixed sequential exploratory design is proposed, which is developed in two research phases. An initial phase of qualitative data collection and analysis; and a subsequent complementary phase of quantitative data gathering and analysis. The results of this research show the low levels of environmental awareness on the part of students regarding the uses, management and socio-environmental problems related to water. In addition, they tend to conceive of water uses from a direct and proximate perspective, based on food, health and hygiene. The conclusions of this study suggest the need to approach the contents of water from a broader perspective, considering the causes and consequences of the problems arising from poor water use and management

Keywords:

• Disposition
• environmental awareness
• Primary Education
• science education
• sustainable management
• water

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mª Paz Pozo-Muñoz

M.ª Paz Pozo-Muñoz is doctoral student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Malaga and science teacher of Secondary Education. Her doctoral thesis is a research about the environmental awareness about water in Primary Education students

Carolina Martín-Gámez

Carolina Martín-Gámez (PhD) is Associate Professor in the Department of Science Education at the Faculty of Education of the University of Malaga (Spain). Her research takes a participatory approach to exploring the challenges and opportunities associated with the teaching and learning on environmental education

Leticia C. Velasco-Martínez

Leticia C. Velasco- Martínez (PhD) is a Lecturer in the Faculty of Education of the University of Malaga (Spain). She is engaged in research on the teaching and learning on environmental education, focusing on environmental awareness