A recent survey has revealed that 93% of primary school educators in South Africa believe there should be more creative and interactive activities for learners around environmental education, and specifically plastic pollution awareness.
The survey was conducted by the Breteau Foundation, a non-profit organisation (NPO) with a vision to provide access to quality education for all children.
According to the foundation, teachers have strongly emphasised a need for more environmental education resources and support. In addition, teachers believe that creative and engaging multimedia resources would be highly valuable.
According to the organisation, the results match that of similar studies conducted in South America, the United Kingdom and Lebanon. The body stressed that teachers believe teaching using multiple formats, including video, reading and activities, is more effective.
These sentiments have been echoed by Ron Mukanya, director of sustainability management at the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape.
“I support the notion of distributing Environmental Education (EE) resources to schools as a means to engage young people as leaders in environmentalism, because a combination of cartoons and educational materials comes with inspirational learning activities, which greatly enhance students’ engagement,” said Mukanya.
“Education for sustainable development (ESD) equips learners with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to address complex environmental challenges in the 21st century, which links to Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) on quality education.”
The call for a concerted effort to educate primary learners about plastic pollution and environmental awareness comes ahead of the launch of Plastic Changemakers in September.
This new initiative by the Breteau Foundation is a collaboration with award-winning global independent animation studios ZAG and Mediawan Kids & Family. It aims to inspire the next generation of ambassadors for change in the fight against plastic.
Plastic pollution is a serious problem in South Africa and is threatening the environment, fuelled by negligence to dispose of plastic in the correct way an a lack of recycling. In 2010 the country ranked 11th globally on the list of the worst offenders regarding plastic pollution in the ocean.
Findings by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Department of Environmental Affairs revealed only 16% of plastic is recycled in South Africa, with the rest ending up at landfill locations; from where plastic can end up in rivers, and eventually the ocean, due to wind, littering, improper waste management and overflowing landfills.
Negligence in imparting knowledge about the importance of nature preservation has taken root in local townships, especially when one looks at schools, with long grass and garbage heaps considered the norm.
