Department of Education

Environmental Education in the

Basic Education Sector

ANTONIO A. INOCENTES
Undersecretary

Forum-Workshop on RA 9512 Challenges for Action:

Environmental Awareness and Education Law.
Hotel Stotsenberg, Clarkfield,Pampanga.
July 30-31, 2009
 Legal Bases
1. Article II, Section 16 of the 1987 Philippine
Constitution
“The state shall protect and enhance the right of the people to
a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm
and harmony of nature.”
2. Presidential Decree 1152 otherwise known as
the Philippine Environmental Code
Title IV. Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 53. Environmental Education
“The Department of Education and Culture shall integrate
subjects on Environment Education in its school curricular at
all levels. It shall also endeavor to conduct special
community education emphasizing the relationship for man
and nature as well as environmental sanitation and
practices.”
3. UN – Decade of Education for Sustainable
Development
• requires involvement of all education in
government, civil society, educational
institutions and private organization
4. Philippine Agenda 21: the nation’s
blueprint for sustainable development per
Memorandum Order No. 399 dated
September 26, 1996
and now;
5. RA 9512: An Act to Promote
Environmental Awareness through
Environmental Education and for other
purposes
 Environmental Education
a. Development of skills, knowledge and
values that promote behavior in support
of a sustainable environment.
b. A learning process that increases people’s
knowledge and awareness about the
environment and associated challenges
c. Organized efforts to teach about how
natural environments functions and
particularly how human beings manage it.
 Environmental Education
Concepts/Concerns
Climate Change Adaptation
• Air Quality Management
• Waste Management
• Ecological Balance
• Global Warming
• Ozone Layer Depletion
Natural Resources Management and Conservation
• Water Quality Management
• Land Use Management
With Environmental Education…
1. Prevention of destruction of the
environment and sustainable development
achieved;
2. Preservation and protection ecological
foundation of the earth
3. Better general public awareness and
understanding of concerns like ozone
layer depletion, global warming; leading
to actions
 Basic Education Sector’s Initiatives
1. Enhancing the Basic Education Curriculum
through the development of support
instructional materials for the different
learning areas in all levels.
2. Providing support to the conduct of
celebrations, in programs and observance
of sustained efforts for the protection of
the country’s environment and resources.
3. Establishing linkages with government agencies
and private, and non-profit organizations for the
upgrading of teachers’ competencies in
integrated environmental education
4. Holding of science fairs and science camps as
alternative awareness in learning about the
environment.
5. Issuance of policies in support of environmental
education programs.
d. DepEd Memo No. 56, s. 2002 – Essay and Poster
Contest of the Children of the Earth’s Club
e. Issuance of policies and guidelines on the
integration of Environmental Education in the
curriculum
• Advocacy- Zero Waste Management,
• War on Waste (WOW), etc.
• Tree Planting, Cleanliness Campaign
• Environmental Care & Protection
• Various Contest on Environmental Awareness
F. Theme in SY 2008-2009 National Schools Press
Conference (NSPC)
• - Climate Change: A Call for Responsible Campus
Journalism
DepEd’s Issuances/Policies
6. DepEd Memoranda / Orders
a. Pledge – Panunumpa sa Watawat
b. DepEd Memo No. 234 s. 2008 – Planting of Malunggay
Trees in School
c. DepEd Memo No. 2 s. 2009 – Dissemination of Republic
Act No. 9512 (An Act to Promote Environmental
Awareness through Environmental Education and for
Other Purposes)
Initiatives: Elementary Education
Sector

1. Enhanced Curriculum with environmental

concepts in the following learning areas:
- Science & Health - Gr. III-IV
- Sibika at Kultura – Gr. I-III
- Heograpiya, Kasaysayan at
Sibika - IV-VI
- Edukasyong Pagpapakatao I-VI
- Edukasyong Pantahanan at
Pangkabuhayan IV-VI
1.2. Existing Support Materials with
integration of Environmental
Education (EE):
- Lesson Exemplars
- Modules
- Multi-level Materials
 Examples
of Enhanced/Integration of EE
in the
Curriculum
Science and Health
Grade III
• Infer how pollution affects soil, water, and air
• Practice ways of protecting and conserving soil, water, and
air

Grade IV
• Practice precautionary measures in using, storing and
disposing household materials
• Practice proper disposal of waste materials
Sibika at Kultura

Grade I
• Nakatutulong sa pagpapanatili ng kagandahan ng
tanawin at pook pasyalan
Grade II
• Nailalarawan ang kapaligiran ng sariling pamayanan at
iba pang pamayanang Pilipino
Grade III
• Napapatunayan na mahalaga ang pagtutulungan upang
matamo ang mithiin sa paaralan at pamayanan
( Programang”Clean and Green”, Waste Management”,
“Bantay Kalikasan,” “ Kontra Kalat sa Dagat”)
Edukasyong Pagpapakatao

Grade II
Kalusugan at Pag-ayon sa Kalikasan
• Naisasagawa nang palagian ang pagtulong sa
pagpapanatili ng kalinisan at kaayusan ng tahanan
- pagtatapon ng basura
Grade III
• Nakatutulong sa pagpapanatiling ligtas sa sakit ang
mga tao sa pamayanan
- pag-iwas sa pagbili ng pagkaing walang takip
Edukasyong Pantahanan at
Pangkabuhayan

Grade V
Agrikultura
• Napapalawak ang mga kaalaman, kasanayan at
wastong saloobin sa pagtatanim ng gulay na
mapagkakakitaan
• Naipakikita ang hakbang sa paggawa ng
“compost/basket composting” at wastong
paggamit nito
Initiatives: Secondary Education Sector

1. Integration
• Science
• Social Studies
• Values Education
• Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE)
• Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health
(MAPEH)
• English & Filipino (use of stories, poems, essays)
2. Earth and Environmental Education is taught as a
separate subject in special science high schools.
3. Examples
Science and Technology III
 Discuss the chemical processes involved in
environmental pollution
 Describe the biological and environmental of
colloids like aerosol sprays, smoke, etc.
Araling Panlipunan III
 Nasusuri ang kaugnayan ng heograpiya sa mga
pandaigdigang “phenomenon” (Global warming,
El Nino, at iba pa).
 Nasusuri ang mga isyu at suliraning may
kinalaman sa paggamit ng teknolohiya (isyu at
suliraning ekolohikal, paglilipat ng teknolohiya,
atbp.)
• Mathematics II
Coordinate System
 Indigenous practices and environmentally-
sound technologies can lead to mitigation and
adaptation responses to climate change
• Filipino II
Mga Gawain ng Tao Kaugnay sa Pagbabago ng Klima
(Nakakadagdag sa pagtaas ng Greenhouse Gases):

• malawakang/pandaigdigang
deporeystasyon;
• pagdami ng mga gawaing pang-industriyal,
usok mula sa mga sasakyan; at
• pamamahala sa gawaing pagtatapon ng
basura at masidhing pang-agrikultura.
Initiatives: Alternative Learning System

Five Learning Strands

 Communication Skills
 Problem Solving and
Critical Thinking
(scientific literacy and
numeracy)
 Sustainable Use of
Resources and
Productivity
 Development of Self and a
Sense of Community
 Expanding One’s World 23
Learning Strand Two:

CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING

Focus: Application of Scientific Ways of

Thinking in Daily Life

Terminal Objective A:
Acquire scientific thinking skills
through exposure to and practice
in problem solving in different
life situations
Environmental Education as reflected in the different
Alternative Learning System (ALS) programs

13 BLLMs (Basic Literacy Sulong Kalikasan,

Learning Materials) Pasiring sa
Kapaligiran Natin: Kauswagan
for Non-literate and neo-literate Alagaan Natin

The BLLMs are translated into 10

major languages:
Ilocano, Pangasinense, Kapampangan,
Bicolano, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Waray,
Maguindanaon, Maranao and Tausug. BasicLiteracyLearning
Material
BureauofAlternative
LearningSystem
Elementary Level Secondary Level
4 Modules 5 Modules

26
Radio-Based Instruction (RBI)

4 of the A&E core modules

were transformed into
scripts
– Hangin . . . Pumapatay
– Sa Kompost . . . Walang
Gastos
– Bulate, Sagot sa Basura
– Basura’y Bawas-bawasan
Computer-Based Instruction
(CBI) for eSkwela

9 of the A&E Core Modules were converted into

digitized form
Environmental Causes of Diseases The Ecosystem
Let’s Clean Up the Environment Balance in Nature
Wanted: Clean and Fresh Air Think Green
The Cost of Environmental Degradation Composting
Using Scientific Method in Agriculture
29
30
Adaption/Translation of Package Learning
Materials on Environment (PLANET) for
sustainable development.
PLANET has three series of package on three
environmental issues:
• Water Pollution (PLANET 1)
• Forest Conservation (PLANET 2)
• Waste Management (PLANET 3)
 Practical Application: Best Practices
1. Campaign for a smoke-free and drug-free school
2. Camping on Environment Health and Sanitation
3. Rehabilitation of Campus Grounds
4. Annual Search for Best Science Community
Based Project (Preservation and Protection of
the Environment) like Adopting a River, a
Mountain.
5. Conduct of the Annual Regional Youth for
Environment Summer Camp (Provision for
learning experiences and exposure students and
teachers on various scientific, technological and
environmental concepts)
6. National Science Club Month Celebration,
School Level (tree planting, advocacy
program, waste management trainings)
7. Zero Waste Management/Solid Waste
Management (Composting,
Vermicomposting and Green Manuring)
8. Coastal Clean-up Drive
9. Active participation in the observance of
the Earth Day
• Funding support
• Development and reproduction of
learning materials
• Enhancement of trainings on
environmental education
• Sustainability of programs, projects and
actions
This Department to continue playing a
lead role in ensuring the
protection/conservation of the
environment through education
initiatives.
 1.Continuous partnership with agencies and
institutions in promoting and developing of
environmentally-literate and concerned citizens;

2. Better appreciation of the environment through

projects like conservation of local resources,
beautiful spots and preservation of endangered
species of plants and animals.
3. Implementation of an enhanced environmental
education curriculum;

4. Provision of technical assistance; and

5. Monitoring and evaluation of program

implementation.
 THANK
YOU!
Bureau of Elementary Education
Bureau of Secondary Education