Environmental Attitude among Secondary School Students

The growing environmental challenges, such as climate change, pollution, and resource depletion, necessitate a deeper understanding of environmental attitudes among students. This study aims to assess the environmental attitude of secondary school students based on gender, type of school management, medium of instruction, and locality. A descriptive survey method was employed, and data was collected using the Environmental Attitude Scale (EAS) developed by Dr. Haseen Taj (2001). A total of 240 students from various schools in Bengaluru district were selected through a simple random sampling technique. The results indicate significant differences in environmental attitudes based on gender, with boys exhibiting higher environmental attitudes than girls. School management type also played a role, as government school students demonstrated stronger environmental attitudes compared to private aided students. Additionally, English-medium students displayed more positive environmental attitudes than Kannada-medium students. However, no significant difference was found between urban and rural students. The study highlights the need for comprehensive environmental education programs tailored to different demographic groups to foster a positive attitude towards environmental conservation. The findings suggest that educational interventions should focus on integrating experiential learning, community participation, and inclusive policies to enhance students’ engagement with environmental sustainability.