Cogent Education (Dec 2023)
Environmental literacy in ethnic Korean textbooks in China
Abstract
AbstractThe environmental issues has transcended the confines of national boundaries and become global concerns. To address these matters, Environmental Education (EE) has emerged as a pivotal strategy aimed at elevating students’ awareness, knowledge, and attitude towards the environment. In this light, China has incorporated EE into its official curriculum since 2003. Given that China is a multiethnic nation with 56 officially acknowledged ethnic groups, schools catering to minorities are also required to integrate EE into their curricula, as mandated by the PRC government. Against this backdrop, this study appraises the environmental content of three textbooks: Morality and the Rule of Law, Korean Language, and Character and Society, published by Yanbian Education Publishing House in 2016 for Chosunjok (ethnic Koreans), which represents the 13th largest minority group in China. To reveal the underlying ideologies and cultural values embedded in environmental texts, this study employs critical Curriculum theories and environmental literacy (EL) as analytical frameworks. The findings are organized into three categories: Knowledge, Affective, and Behaviour, which are the primary components of EL. The Behaviour category is given the most emphasis, as it encourages students to take responsibility for environmental protection. The Knowledge and Affective categories are also well-represented in the texts. However, the study observes a tendency to avoid discussing current environmental issues in China and to attribute environmental problems to dominant groups without clear explanations. Therefore, the article recommends that critical perspectives be promoted among students and teachers to enhance the quality of environmental education and reveal concealed ideologies in environmental discourse.
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