Diagnosis about environmental education in secondary schools in Ilha Solteira city (SP, Brazil)

• Grant number: 11/07215-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2011
• End date: December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Education - Specific topics in Education
• Principal Investigator: Carolina Buso Dornfeld
• Grantee: Gilberto Dias de Alkimin
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Ilha Solteira. Ilha Solteira , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The current economic model is based on profit and the logic of the production increase that needs to be consumed. This leads to pressure on natural resources causing environmental degradation and reflecting on the loss of quality of life. In this situation, sustainable development is a strategic role, harmonizing the development of social and economic activities with environmental preservation. An important component of this strategy is the Environmental Education (EE), especially that performed at educational institutions, because these spaces are privileged to have large numbers of people involved, allowing greater diversity and range. The challenge is to make an EE that is both critical and innovative and above all a political act aimed at social transformation. The Brazilian Constitution of 1988 defines as incumbent on the Government to promote environmental education (EE) at all levels of education and public awareness for the preservation of the environment. This item has been regulated by Federal Law 9.795/99 and Decree no. 4.182/02, setting a National Policy on EE, and its implementation and operation is detailed in the National Program of EE. Given the importance of public policies for the development of an EE along the lines mentioned above, this project proposes to diagnose EE in high schools in Ilha Solteira city (SP, Brazil). Through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, involving the direction, coordination as well as teachers and students will review the issues, objectives and methodologies of the projetcs developed on the schools, searching these data and directing the actors involved in public policy area. The analysis of responses will be qualitative-quantitative using the textual analysis and descriptive statistics.