ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN ACADEMIA: BANGLADESH PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Due to the ever rising environmental disasters, environmental education has emerged as one of the most talked about issues in academia – all around the world today. To tackle this overwhelming crisis, there is an imminent need for environmental awareness at the mass level – which, of course, can only be provided through environmental education. As Bangladesh is one the most vulnerable countries in terms of environmental disaster, and as environmental education and awareness can play significant roles in ensuring participation of mass people in safeguarding environment; the need of such environmental education here has become an absolute necessity. The aim of this paper is to investigate into the current state of environmental education in Bangladesh, particularly at the university level.  In doing so, it considers the existing laws on environmental education in Bangladesh, the role and scope of the universities, and the responsibilities of the teachers in raising learner awareness in environmental issues. Finally it comes up with some recommendations in relation to imparting environmental education and raising learner awareness at the university level.