Percepção sobre meio ambiente por estudantes das séries iniciais do Ensino Fundamental II no município de Barreiros

Abstract

This study investigated the perception of middle school students about the environment in two schools in Barreiros, Pernambuco, one public and one private. The research aimed to analyze how 6th to 9th grade students understand the concept of environment, its importance, and the extent to which the subject is incorporated into the school curriculum. The methodology involved questionnaires applied to 140 students, whose answers were categorized into three levels (adequate, partially adequate, and inadequate) and comparatively analyzed between the two school contexts. The findings revealed a significant gap in students’ understanding: most were unable to provide definitions consistent with the United Nations (UN) framework and showed limited awareness of the environment’s relevance to sustainability and quality of life. Differences between school systems were also observed, with the subject receiving greater attention in private schools, while in public schools it appeared in a fragmented way. Another key finding was the lack of connection between local environmental issues — such as deforestation, water pollution, and climate vulnerability — and the content taught in classrooms. The study concludes that environmental education must be strengthened through more integrated, participatory, and contextualized pedagogical practices, in order to stimulate student engagement and foster the formation of critical citizens committed to socio-environmental sustainability