Indigenous knowledge : a medium to promote environmental education

Abstract

This study has embarked on exploring and employing indigenous knowledge as a medium to promote environmental education in Kenya, East Africa. This knowledge as previous researchers have noted, is decreasing and loosing value in Kenya indigenous communities day by day, being systematically replaced by western culture and modern world of science and technology. This study aims to use indigenous knowledge as a tool or strategy for achieving environmental education, in the upper primary (year 4-8) and secondary schools used in gathering indigenous songs, poems, stories, fables, superstitions, dances and indigenous education, related to environmental conservation. This information is utilised in designing a resource pack as a teachers guide for the upper primary and secondary school pupils. The resource pack consists of a series of 5 educational activities for the upper primary and a series of 5 educational activities for the secondary pupils. Twenty five resources are provided to accompany the activities. The resource pack is later presented to the upper primary and secondary environmental teachers in Kenya who are involved in its evaluation and possibilities to improve its final quality and usability.