The Extent of Environmental Sustainability and Stewardship Practices of Junior High School Students in Looc National High School: Inputs to the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Environmental sustainability and stewardship play a vital role in the advancement of the understanding of students regarding ecological awareness. Relative to this, the researcher conducted this study, which aimed to assess the extent knowledge and awareness of Junior HS students in Looc National High School as regards to environmental sustainability and stewardship practices.

METHODS

The study employed the descriptive research design, which made use of survey-questionnaire in gathering the necessary data. The respondents of this research were fifty (50) students every grade level for the Academic Year 2017-2018. Tree-planting activities, waste reduction, and segregation recycling and composting, freshwater/marine conservation and forest management while reforestation programs, solid-waste, and resilience-based ecosystem management were the indicators to assess environmental sustainability and stewardship of school.

RESULTS

The study revealed that recycling and composting got the highest weighted mean, while tree-planting activities received the lowest weighted mean. In terms of environmental stewardship, resilience-based ecosystem management received the highest weighted mean, while reforestation programs got the lowest weighted mean. Thus, there is a significant correlation between sustainable school communities and the practices done in terms of environmental sustainability and stewardship. However, there is a substantial difference between the environmental sustainability status and stewardship as assessed by the students.

DISCUSSIONS

A Disaster Risk Reduction Management Plan was designed and served as an input to strengthen environmental sustainability and stewardship in the school community.