The Informal Environmental Education Value Practices Among Adults in Sabah, Malaysia

Abstract

Education and awareness are the main points in the Green Strategies outlined in Malaysia’s National Policy on environment. Informal education aims to complement primary and secondary education to provide acquisition of new-updated knowledge and skills. The advantage of informal education over formal education is its flexible program involving different types of activities related to the environment. Adult environmental education activities in Sabah, one of the states in East Malaysia, are increasingly being promoted and developed by various relevant sectors. The results of Arba’at (1992) study showed that majority of the environmental education goal levels were perceived by primary school teachers in Sabah as important.

The aim of this paper is to present the value practices of informal environmental education among adults in Sabah. Data were gathered through review of literatures on informal environmental education by Sabah Environment Protection Department. Findings from the case studies conducted by the Science and Technology Unit were also included. Results from Sabah Environment Protection Department (2008) showed that most of the environmental education activities carried out in Sabah were awareness campaigns organized by non-governmental organizations (for example, Sabah Environmental Education Network (SEEN) and Sabah Environment Protection Department (SEPD). Other activities that were carried out throughout the state of Sabah included environmental talks, exhibitions, seminars, workshops, conventions, and outdoor activities. All activities implemented were found to have increased public awareness on environmental protection.