Awareness and Practices of Grade 12 Students in Implementing Proper Waste Management: A Step Toward Strengthening Values

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Despite massive dissemination of information and environmental awareness posed by the government and several non-governmental organizations, the cleanliness drive is still a failure to any school observed. Hence, this study had attempted to identify the underlying reasons behind the unsuccessful implementation of the once "clean and green campaign" and now known as the cleanliness drive reiterated in the Brigada Eskwela program of the Department ofEducation. This study aimed specifically to determine the awareness and practices of Grade 12 students in implementing proper waste management in Pinamukan Integrated School which population is 950 students.

METHODS

The type of research used in this study was the descriptive research which made use of the questionnaire-checklist, essay type and observation as the instrument in gathering data. This attempted to validate the hypothesis that the level of awareness and students' practices affect the success of the school’s implementation of proper waste management. Grade 12 students were used as the respondents of the study and the data collection focused on the checklist and unstructured interview of the researchers.

RESULTS

The researchers concluded that all students were fully aware of proper waste management. They knew the facilities and policies of the school in maintaining the cleanliness of the campus and of the proper waste segregation, yet they were not aware that it is mandated by the Department of Education. It is apparent that in many areas of the campus, specifically on school grounds, cleanliness is practiced. However, they fell short of practicing it once inside the school building and more inside the classroom. Trash bins being placed far outside the classroom is one of the reasons, but lack of discipline was the major factor that hindered the success of a proper disposal system.

DISCUSSIONS

Discipline is still a major reason for the ineffectiveness of the government and the Department of Education's program on cleanliness at any school in the country. For this reason, at the school level, the researchers recommended to stress information dissemination through bulletin boards, give flyers about the waste management program of Department of Education, and advocate on having garbage cans not only around campus but also in all corners of school buildings and inside the classrooms. Most of all, teachers and advisers must strengthen values on cleanliness as it should also be incorporated in their daily lesson plan.