Title: The influence of an environmental management system on the environmental worldviews of selected Namibian and South African in-service teachers

Authors: Schalk Petrus Raath; Alex Tubawene Kanyimba; Luiza Olim De Sousa; Barend Wilhelm Richter

Addresses: Faculty of Education, North-West University, Box 539, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa ' University of Namibia, Private Bag 13301, 340 Mandume Ndemufayo Ave, Pionierspark, Windhoek, Namibia, South Africa ' Faculty of Education, North-West University, Box 539, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa ' Faculty of Education, North-West University, Box 539, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa

Abstract: A recurring theme in contemporary environmental theory is the need for society to change to a new ecological paradigm. This study informs on the influence of an environmental management system on the environmental worldviews of selected Namibian and South African in-service teachers. A pre and post structural questionnaire based on the new ecological paradigm was developed and tested to understand teacher's implementation of environmental management in schools. The findings revealed a positive inclination by the teachers to subscribe their personal and collective agency to pro-ecological tendencies. The Mann-Whitney test revealed a moderate size shift in worldview towards the pro-ecological and anti-anthropocentric tendencies of the new ecological paradigm. The latter shows that teachers still believe in the dominant social paradigm and attitudes towards the environment and values may shift. It is recommended that teachers and schools be encouraged to support the inclusion of an environmental management system to enhance sustainability practices.

Keywords: environmental management system; sustainable development; new ecological paradigm; values; attitudes towards the environment; pro-ecological; anti-anthropocentric; environmental worldviews; Namibia; South Africa; in-service teachers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2018.096861

International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, 2018 Vol.17 No.4, pp.347 - 365

Received: 15 Jun 2017
Accepted: 22 Nov 2017
Published online: 12 Dec 2018 *

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