Philippine E-Journals

Relationship Between Environmental Education Exposure and Environmental Orientation of Grade 6 Learners: Basis for a Proposed School-Based Environmental Literacy Program

Mary Joy L. Alonzo | Jean S. Omo | Meliza P. Alo

Discipline: Education

 

Abstract:

Amid the growing emphasis on environmental education, fostering learners’ awareness, attitudes, and responsible behaviors toward the environment has become a key goal in basic education. This study examined the relationship between exposure to environmental education and the environmental orientation of Grade 6 learners. Specifically, it assessed learners’ exposure to environmental education and explored its association with their environmental orientation. A quantitative descriptive-correlational research design was employed, using validated questionnaires to gather data on both variables. The findings indicated that learners exhibited a very high level of exposure to environmental education and a high level of environmental orientation. Moreover, a positive relationship was observed between exposure to environmental education and environmental orientation. Based on these results, the study proposed “Project ECO-Learn: Enhanced Environmental Awareness and Action Program for Grade 6 Learners” as an enrichment initiative to sustain and strengthen learners’ environmental knowledge, attitudes, and practices through structured instruction, experiential activities, reflective exercises, and community involvement. The study, however, was limited to a single school and relied on self-reported data, which may affect the generalizability of the findings. Future research could involve multiple schools and diverse educational contexts to validate further the long-term impact of environmental education on learners’ environmental orientation.