“Environmental Education” – Education for Sustainability and Its Effectiveness in Creating Awareness: A Case Study of Guwahati City

 Queen Sarma  
(Krishnakanta Handique State Open University, Guwahati, India)

Abstract: The importance and significance of the environmental education as one of today’s accentuated assignment is unquestionable. The environment and the society area in a process of continuous change. The earth that supports all kinds of life is slowly becoming inhospitable for human beings. While we may not feel minute changes in global temperature, personally witness the disappearance of species, or understanding how deforestation affects individual livelihoods, the degradation of the environment is real and must be addressed if we are assure our survival. In this context, Environmental education is the process of recognizing values and clarifying concepts in order to develop skills and attitude necessary to understand and appreciate the inter-relatedness among humans, their culture and their bio-physical surroundings (IUCN 1970). It is the main tool which can contribute for the sustainable development. In formal education already Environmental education has been implemented as an compulsory subject in all level of education starting from school level to university level, but the effectiveness of the program is still doubtful. So there is utmost necessary to do research to know whether these courses are beneficial to inculcate awareness towards the environmental issues.

The present paper attempts to check the effectiveness of the environmental courses offered by various colleges and universities including ODL institutions in this region in terms of student enrollment, course curriculum standard, course contents, student support services, employment generation, and awareness creation.

Key words: environmental education; sustainability; ODL