Environmental Education Is Needed, but Schools Are Not Ready Yet: Korean Teachers' Perceptions of Environmental Education in Schools

Overview & Synopsis

A nationwide survey was conducted for better understanding of the perceptions and practices related to environmental education by elementary and secondary school teachers. Along with this sample group survey, another survey was conducted on teachers in schools participating in the Korean Ministry of Environment's environmental education support projects. Teachers who participated in these surveys agreed in general that it was necessary to expand environmental education in schools and had been covering and hoped to continue to cover various environmental topics in their classes. They also thought that, whereas objectives of environmental education were important in school education, sufficient preparations had not been made in their schools for achievement of these objectives. The results of the surveys showed differences in teachers' responses between both groups. The study drew implications from the differences and suggested considerations for future support of environmental education practices.