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Development of Education System Kulwinder Pal, Lovely Professional University

Notes Unit 32: Role of Education in Generating

Environmental Awareness

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
32.1 Environment Education in India
32.2 Role of Education in Environmental Awareness
32.3 Summary
32.4 Keywords
32.5 Review Questions
32.6 Further Readings

Objectives

The objectives of this unit can be summarized as below:
• to describe about environment education in India.
• to discuss about the role of education in environmental awareness.

Introduction

Environmental Education; of the Ministry of Environment and Forest, the Government of India;
can be defined as 'a process of recognizing values and clarifying concepts in order to develop
skills and added tools necessary to understand and appreciate the interrelationships among man,
his culture and his biophysical surroundings.' Through this definition, it is clear that environmental
education can play a most significant role in building Awareness about- the relation between
modern development and environment; and the impact of developmental practices on the
surrounding environment among masses, if imparted properly. It is the educations which can
enable a person know about everything. Education is very portart to understand environmental
education. Education is must for achieving this.
32.1 Environmental Education in India

In 1986 environmental education became an integral component of National Policy on Education
for the first time after independence. The policy stated: “there is a need to create consciousness of
the environment which must permeate all ages and all sections of the society beginning with the
child. Environmental consciousness should inform teaching in schools and colleges and should be
integrated in the entire education process”. Although there was no separate environmental
education policy and plan of action either at the Union or the State levels, environmental education
had been influenced by politics and plans of other sectors and strategies of environmental education
have been outlined stage-wise and subject-wise in the National Curriculum Frame Work 1987. By
scanning the curriculum evidence has been found that environmental education concepts in terms
of awareness and knowledge seem to be adequately covered, while the development of skills for
the study of environment and environmental ethics, attitudes and actions need strengthening.

32.2 Role of Education in Environmental Awareness

Environmental Education; according to the Annual Report (2004-2005) of the Ministry of
Environment and Forest, the Government of India; can be defined as 'a process of recognizing

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