CLIMATE-FRIENDLY STRATEGIES FOR MITIGATING THE IMPACT OF  CLIMATE CHANGE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OTUOCHA EDUCATION ZONE, ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Helen C.  Onuorah; Victoria C.  Mbonu; Modesta Eziechi

Helen C. Onuorah DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT AND POLICY, NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA ANAMBRA STATE
Victoria C. Mbonu Faculty of Education, Department of Educational Management and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
Modesta Eziechi Faculty of Education, Department of Educational Management and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

Keywords: Climate-friendly, Strategies, Impact, Climate Change, Secondary Schools

Abstract

The study determined climate friendly strategies for mitigating the impact of climate change in secondary schools in Otuocha Education Zone of Anambra State. One research question guided the study and one hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The descriptive survey research design was used for the study. The population of the study comprised 706 respondents made up of 26 principals and 680 teachers in the 26 public secondary schools in Otuocha Education Zone of Anambra State. The sample for the study was 230 respondents were selected for the study through simple random sampling. The instrument for data collection was a 23 item validated questionnaire developed by the researchers. The test of reliability on the instrument using Cronbach Alpha yielded a reliability co-efficient value of 0.85. Data for the study was analyzed with mean, standard deviation and t-test. Findings on the study revealed that planting drought-resistant flowers, trees, and shrubs in and around the school (mean=3.93); Establishing a school cafeteria composting programme (mean=3.72) and Sharing tips for parents to introduce sustainability practices at home(mean=3.63) were some of the strategies for mitigating the impact of climate change in secondary schools. Based on these findings, the following recommendations were made among others that the federal and state government should map out federal and state wide climate-friendly school framework for secondary schools in Nigeria. It was also recommended that the Post Primary School Service Commission should also ensure that secondary schools adapt a climate-friendly culture that is unique to the environmental needs of the schools.