Teachers' perceptions of a new environmental education initiative for NSW, Australia

Abstract

The concept of sustainability is gaining increasing prominence in Australia as the country attempts to deal with serious environmental problems such as soil salinity and water shortage. Education is viewed as having a key role in future sustainable development and the New South Wales Department of Education has recently introduced an Environmental Education policy aimed at improving the practices of schools. The approach adopted is laudable as it actively engages students in the decision-making process. However, as with many other initiatives there is a risk that it will be viewed as an "add-on" to the current crowded curriculum and as such this may impede its implementation.