International Journal of

ADVANCED AND APPLIED SCIENCES

EISSN: 2313-3724, Print ISSN: 2313-626X

Frequency: 12
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 Volume 11, Issue 12 (December 2024), Pages: 192-199

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 Technical Note

Recycling roads: A teacher’s journey in Malaysian preschools' eco-education

 Author(s): 

 Iylia Binti Mohamad 1, *, Mohamad Albaree Bin Abdul 1, Syazwani Aniyah Binti Manja 2, Hazhari Bin Ismail 1

 Affiliation(s):

 1Early Childhood Education Department, Faculty of Human Development, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Tanjung Malim, Malaysia
 2National Children Development Research Centre (NCDRC), Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Tanjong Malim, Malaysia

 Full text

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 * Corresponding Author. 

  Corresponding author's ORCID profile: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9980-6590

 Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

 https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2024.12.021

 Abstract

Recycling is not yet a common practice for everyone, but it is crucial for protecting the environment. According to the National Solid Waste Management Department (NSWMD), only 31.52% of Malaysians participate in recycling, which falls short of expectations. This figure is notably lower than the rates of other developed countries, which typically exceed 60%. These statistics indicate that Malaysia still has significant progress to make in recycling efforts. However, the nation aims to reach a 60% recycling rate by 2025. Although achieving this goal may seem challenging, there is a strong commitment to making it happen. This study focuses on educating young children about the benefits, challenges, and innovations of recycling. The study involved six children from a government preschool as the primary participants. To make learning more engaging, traffic road play was used as a tool to promote recycling. Data was collected through a qualitative approach within an action research framework, gathering both pre- and post-study information. The results were noteworthy, demonstrating how these children changed their understanding, habits, and creative approaches to recycling. Consequently, this study has contributed to greater societal awareness and improved recycling practices. Future research should consider expanding this approach by involving young children in public areas, such as parks, to deepen their recycling knowledge and foster a greater sense of environmental responsibility.

 © 2024 The Authors. Published by IASE.

 This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

 Keywords

 Recycling habits, Environmental protection, Preschool education, Action research, Innovative learning

 Article history

 Received 4 July 2024, Received in revised form 12 November 2024, Accepted 24 November 2024

 Acknowledgment

This paper was fully supported by the University’s Research Grant code 2020-0090-107-01. Therefore, we would like to give our gratitude to Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) for the funds and opportunity given to us in doing this research. Special thanks to Sek Keb Rasa, Hulu Selangor, Malaysia, for their collaboration and support.

 Compliance with ethical standards

 Ethical considerations

This study was conducted in compliance with ethical guidelines for research involving minors. Informed consent was obtained from the parents or legal guardians of all participants. Anonymity and confidentiality were maintained, and activities were designed to avoid any harm.

 Conflict of interest: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

 Citation:

 Mohamad IB, Abdul MAB, Manja SAB, and Ismail HB (2024). Recycling roads: A teacher’s journey in Malaysian preschools' eco-education. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 11(12): 192-199

 Permanent Link to this page

 Figures

 Fig. 1 

 Tables

 Table 1 Table 2 Table 3 

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