ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES : SINGAPORE STUDENTS' AWARENESS

Abstract

This study is concerned with three broad themes; students' awareness of environmental issues, students' personal commitment towards environmental protection and students' environmentally friendly behaviour. A questionnaire survey employing both open ended and structured questions was carried out on 445 students selected from 6 Secondary schools (Anglican High, Ahmad Ibrahim School, Henderson Secondary, St. Joseph's Convent, Jurong Secondary, Zhong Hwa Secondary) 3 Junior Colleges/Pre-University Centers (Nanyang Junior College, Victoria Junior College, Jurong Institute) and the National University of Singapore. Based on aggregate scores of 23 questions encompassing various themes (e.g. causes and effects of environmental problems. environmental protection measures). Students were found to have a low level of environmental awareness in that more than half the respondents (57.3%) could not provide more than 4 correct answers to the questions. Students' showed differing levels of awareness to 6 environmental themes: pollution, ozone layer depletion, global warming, natural resource depletion and wildlife endangering. nuclear hazards and acid rain. Of the six environmental issues, pollution (land, air, water, noise) was the most well known. This study advocates that Singaporean students view environmental problems as synonymous with environmental problems. Among the different types of environmental behaviour, students demonstrated a greater commitment to passive or indirect action to protect the environment than activities that required active or direct participation. This study looked at the extent and frequency students practise environmentally friendly behaviour involving activities enhancing a greater awareness of the environment (e.g. attending environmental talks and exhibitions) and behaviour linked to conservation (e.g. saving water and recycling waste materials). Most students (62.9%) professed to practise less than 3 types of environmentally friendly activities. Students in general, showed a preference for conservation measures than activities that increase or promote their appreciation of the natural environment such as attending talks and exhibitions. This study demonstrated that several factors influenced students' environmental awareness, commitment and behaviour. These factors are sociocultural (economic status, ethnicity); educational level, mass media influence (newspaper, magazines and television), spatial (ethnocentrism, proximity, relative distance) and government campaigns.