CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION IN MALAWI: EXAMINING  LEARNERS’ KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES TOWARDS  LEARNING CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION CONTENT IN SENIOR  SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Duncan Wadson; Innocent Mutale Mulenga; Inonge Milupi

Duncan Wadson School of Education, University of Zambia
Innocent Mutale Mulenga, Prof. University of Zambia
Inonge Milupi, Dr University of Zambia

Keywords: Climate Change Education, Curriculum, Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices

Abstract

In this study, the researchers examined learners’ knowledge, attitudes and practices towards learning Climate Change Education (CCE) content in senior secondary schools in Malawi. The mixed method convergent parallel design was employed. Data was collected from 64 participants consisting of learners in 8 secondary schools in two education divisions. Questionnaires and focus group discussions were used to collect data. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS, while qualitative data was analysed thematically. Results indicate that 56.9 per cent of learners had little knowledge of CC. In terms of attitudes, 73.4 per cent agreed that learning CCE content makes them worried about the environment. It was found that an average of 66.9 per cent of the learners did not have a variety of CCE practices for mitigating and adapting to CC. It was recommended that the senior secondary school curriculum should be revised to include CCE content and activities that are likely to promote learning through practice.

Author Biographies

Duncan Wadson, School of Education, University of Zambia

Duncan Wadson is a student of the Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies at the University of Zambia in the School of Education. He holds a Master of Education Degree in Teacher Education. He is a secondary school teacher in Malawi and has worked as an adjunct lecturer at Mzuzu University in Malawi. Wadson is also a textbook evaluator for the Malawi Institute of Education. His research interests are in curriculum implementation, climate change education, educational evaluation and teacher education.

Innocent Mutale Mulenga, Prof., University of Zambia

Innocent Mutale Mulenga is an Associate Professor of Curriculum Studies at the University of Zambia in the School of Education. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies. His research interests are in curriculum development, implementation, evaluation and reform, teacher education, educational assessment, pedagogy and language teaching methodology. Prof. Mulenga has authored several books, book chapters and journal articles.

Inonge Milupi, Dr, University of Zambia

Inonge Milupi is a Lecturer and Researcher of Environmental Education at the University of Zambia and a Post-Doctoral fellow at the University of Waterloo in Canada. She obtained her Doctor of Philosophy in Environment and Society from the University of Pretoria in South Africa. Her research interests include climate change, water and sanitation, natural resource management and local ecological knowledge.