Determination of environmental awareness levels of teachers and administrators (the case of Bitlis province)

One of the current and significant problems of our age is undoubtedly the issue of environmental pollution. This problem is growing day by day and causing the emergence of other problems. The awareness of people regarding environmental issues will ensure the continuation or solution of this problem. This research was conducted to determine the environmental awareness of teachers and administrators working in schools (kindergarten, primary school, secondary school, and high school) affiliated with the Bitlis Provincial Directorate of National Education. The research was carried out with 783 voluntary teachers and administrators (53,26 % female, 46,74 % male) during the spring semester of the 2021-2022 academic year. In the study, a "Demographic Information Form" consisting of 17 questions and the "Environmental Awareness Scale" adapted into Turkish by Erten (2005) were used as data collection tools. The data were obtained at a 95 % confidence level using SPSS 25.0 software. To examine the distribution of participants according to their demographic characteristics, frequency and percentage values were provided, while the average and standard deviation were used to reveal the levels of environmental awareness. When examining the reliability of the scale, a Cronbach's Alpha reliability analysis was performed (α=0,82), and it was determined that the reliability levels of the overall scale and its sub-dimensions were above 0,60. In accordance with the purpose of the research, Pearson Correlation Analysis, t-test, and one-way ANOVA were conducted. Looking at some findings obtained from the research; it was determined that 89,02 % of the participants were university graduates; 87,87 % were teachers; 91,95 % of them are not members of a non-governmental organization aimed at protecting the environment; 97,83 % were interested in environmental issues, and 78,29 % lived in a small city. It was found that the participants' level of environmental awareness was high at 3,81±0,33; when examining the sub-dimensions of environmental awareness, it was determined that the levels of environmental awareness attitude were high at 4,10±0,42; the levels of behavioral awareness were medium at 3,39±0,46, and the levels of knowledge were high at 3,93±0,49.