Milka Asenova
Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water - Veliko Tarnovo
https://doi.org/10.53656/nat2024-5-6.02
Abstract. The article presents the results of a national survey for the opinion of teaching staff on the topic of environmental protection in the educational process and the proposed by the Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW) and its structures awareness-raising initiatives and ways of interaction.
The study is based on the hypothesis that the systematic participation of children and students in various forms of non-formal education, in extracurricular and out-of-school environments, tailored to their cognitive abilities and interests, leads to an increase in their environmental culture and to the formation of behaviour patterns for the protection of the natural environment.
Hundreds of extracurricular and out-of-school activities on ecological themes are organized annually, with the support and assistance of the structures of the Ministry of Environment and Water to celebrate nature conservation dates, projects and initiatives of educational institutions, etc. Over the years, the results of the joint work with teachers have been reflected in reports and statements. No survey of teachers' opinions and attitudes towards teaching environmental issues in schools and informal settings has been carried out by the MoEW.
The implemented author's questionnaire included 46 statements structured under eight headings. It can be tentatively divided into two groups - questions that concern the topic of environmental protection, institutional and public support for environmental education in out-of-school environments and a second group of questions that are related to educational initiatives and activities with the structures of the Ministry of Environment, ways and forms of interaction.
The paper outlines the aims, objectives and methodology of the study, the research instruments used. The data obtained from the responses of 910 respondents with different pedagogical specialties are processed, systematized, summarized and graphically presented. The findings are presented in the form of SWOT analysis and can be considered as valuable information on the research topic.
Keywords: environmental culture; non-formal education; information and visitor centres
