Advertisement

Teachers 20 years out of date on green issues

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP

MANY teachers regard humans as being above and apart from nature, which they should be able to exploit for their benefit, according to a survey.

Advertisement

About 40 per cent of 889 secondary school teachers throughout the territory agreed with the statements that 'mankind was created to rule over the rest of nature', and 'humans have the right to modify the natural environment to suit their needs', the survey showed.

Their environmental concern was only on par with views in the United States 20 years ago, the study found.

Activists Green Power said the results were disappointing because environmental awareness would not improve if teachers did not pass it on.

'Teachers' knowledge affects the level of education and awareness,' said co-author of the survey, Baptist University associate professor Dr Wong Koon-kwai.

Advertisement

Results among students were even more marked, with youngsters rating lower on environmental concern than the general public, he said.

Advertisement