EFFECT OF A PARTICIPATORY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMME ON TRADERS’ KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES TOWARD WATER POLLUTION IN RIVERINE AREAS OF ONDO STATE, NIGERIA
Keywords:
participatory environmental education, riverine communities, traders, environmental practices, Ondo State, environmental literacyAbstract
Environmental degradation in riverine communities of Ondo State has become a growing concern due to poor waste disposal practices, water pollution, and inadequate environmental awareness among traders operating within coastal markets. This study investigated the effect of a participatory environmental education programme on traders’ environmental knowledge, attitudes, and practices in selected riverine areas of Ondo State, Nigeria. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design was adopted. The sample consisted of 240 traders selected through stratified random sampling from four riverine markets. Data were collected using the Environmental Knowledge Questionnaire (EKQ), Environmental Attitude Scale (EAS), and Environmental Practices Inventory (EPI). The instruments yielded reliability coefficients of 0.81, 0.84, and 0.79 respectively using Cronbach’s alpha method. Participants in the experimental group were exposed to a 10-week participatory environmental education programme involving workshops, group discussions, demonstrations, and community sanitation activities, while the control group received no intervention. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed a significant effect of the participatory environmental education programme on traders’ environmental knowledge (F = 24.63, p < .05), attitudes (F = 31.82, p < .05), and environmental practices (F = 28.14, p < .05). The study concluded that participatory environmental education significantly improved environmental literacy and responsible environmental behaviour among traders in riverine communities. It was recommended that environmental agencies and local governments adopt participatory environmental education strategies for sustainable environmental management in coastal communities.References
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