Comparison of the level of environmental awareness between students in eco-schools and in classical primary schools

Students in eco-schools and those in classical primary schools were compared for environmental knowledge, environmental attitudes and environment friendly behaviours. Levels of environmental awareness of students enrolled to schools were the eco-schools program is implemented and classical school students were determined and compared for differences between the two school types.Three eco-schools and three classical schools, a total of six schools, in Çankaya Province of Ankara were included in the study, therefore 656 students in the second level participated. For comparison of environmental awareness, the students were carried out an ?Environmental Awareness Questionnaire? consisting of four sections. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 15.0 Software.Results showed minor differences between the student groups for environmental knowledge; however, eco-school students had better environmental knowledge. No differences were found between the two groups for attitudes towards the environment, responsible behaviours for the environment and environmental awareness.When the same issues were compared for differences in gender, girls were higher in terms of environmental knowledge, more positive for attitudes towards the environment and responsible behaviours when compared to boys; and higher level of awareness fr the environment.No statistically significant differences were found when grades were compared for environmental knowledge. 6th graders were more positive for attitudes towards the environment, responsible behaviours and awareness when compared with 7th and 8th graders.Differences were found between classes and school types for the same issues. However, student means were not uniformly distributed for class and school types. Environmental knowledge of 6th and 7th graders in eco-schools were higher than the corresponding graders in classical schools; on the conrary 8th graders in classical schools were better than their counterparts in eco-schools. Sixth graders in both school types showed very close averages for attitudes and behaviours; 7th graders in eco-schools were better than classical school 7th graders, and classical school 8th graders were better than eco-schools.Environmental awareness averages for 6th graders were very close to each other, eco-schools being slightly higher; whereas eco-school 7th graders were higher than classical schools and classical school 8th graders were higher than eco-school graders.Key Words: Environmental Education, Environmental Knowledge, Environmental Attitudes and Behaviours, Environmental Awareness, Eco-schools Project