Macedonian students' ecological knowledge and level of information about the environment

The aim of this study was to investigate the cognitive domain of students’ environmental education (EE) in the Republic of North Macedonia. The main tasks of the study was (1) to compare the ecological knowledge and level of information between primary and secondary school students in the Macedonian context, and (2) to provide an analytical review ofthe findings. Two instruments were used to collect data from a sample of 1003 students from 37 primary and secondary schools in the Republic of North Macedonia. The results of the study suggested that the students in the sample have a low level of both ecological knowledge and ecological information. Students of secondary schools have a statistically higher level of ecological information. It is critical to a certain extent for empirical studies on environmental knowledge to be carried out in developing countries in order to incorporate the findings into the environmental policy development process. We need to develop curricula and programs that are suitable to the individual differences, needs, viewpoints, and abilities of the students. Curricula for environmental learning should contain all environmental components: natural systems, resources, and human resources. We must look at students’ EE achievements in the context of the overall socio-economic conditions in which we carry out the education process. In order to increase students’ knowledge and level of information about the environment, activities should be arranged by various stakeholders, and not only by schools. Environmental education should be extended by using mass communication channels, especially the internet and media.