Fostering environmental awareness in primary school students: Evaluating the impact of a waste management education program

Abstract

This study investigates the environmental knowledge and perceptions of primary school students in Greece, emphasizing critical gaps in waste management awareness and sustainability within the context of Greece's efforts to align with the European Union’s Circular Economy Action Plan. The research examines students’ understanding of fundamental concepts such as waste types, recycling, and sustainability while also assessing the impact of a targeted educational intervention. The intervention consisted of a structured teaching session supplemented by an engaging creative activity, where students designed posters to celebrate World Environment Day, fostering environmental literacy through experiential learning. The findings revealed initial gaps in students' knowledge, especially regarding sustainability and organic waste. However, the intervention significantly enhanced their understanding, particularly in linking sustainability to economic, societal, and environmental factors, and fostered a sense of personal responsibility for waste reduction. This research underscores the pivotal role of targeted, experiential interventions in primary education, advocating for their integration into formal curricula to cultivate environmental stewardship and advance global sustainability goals. It highlights the need for integrating experiential learning and environmental education into school curricula to better prepare students for addressing global sustainability challenges. The study offers important insights for educators, policymakers, and curriculum developers in designing effective programs to enhance environmental literacy.