Environment is the creation in which people live and move and have their being. People are a part of, and inseparable from the environment. Despite the beneficial amenities that people get from natural resources, knowingly and unknowingly, the various treats to the environment still exist at an alarming rate. Among the pressing issues in the locality, country and even the world is environmental degradation. Forest destruction has gone to a large magnitude that barely a million hectares of the rain forest remain. The ozone layer which protects all life from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays is being depleted by chemicals released from air conditioners, refrigerators, aerosol sprays and other products. Lands and waters are being polluted by domestic and industrial wastes and chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The atmosphere is turned toxic by harmful chemicals emitted by vehicles and produced by factories. Acid rain which results from coal-fired power plants turned the rivers and other water ways into sources of disease rather than of life-giving water.
There is a need to increase people’s sensitivity and involvement in finding solutions for environment and development problems. Education can give people the environmental and ethical awareness, values and attitude, skills and behavior needed for sustainable development. To achieve this, education needs to explain not only the physical and biological environment, but the socio-economic environment and human development.
In order that environmental education be effective, there is a need for fundamental education first. Basic education is the underpinning for environment education. Environmental education is vital and its implementation relies on the initiative of an educator. By direct teaching or even by integrating environmental education in different subject areas, pupils will be influenced to the drive in the protection of the environment that leads to the protection of our natural resources.
By: Jean E. ROque | Teacher III | Limay National High School | Limay, Bataan
