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Proceedings of International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the Sustainable Development Goals : Policy and Practice 27-29 June 2016 at the Sirindhorn International Environmental Park, Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand

Analysis  of  biodiversity  in  the  Malaysian  secondary  school  curriculum Mohammad  Zohir  Ahmad1,  2,  *,  Munirah  Ghazali1,  2,  Nur  Syazwana  Hamzah1;  and Wan  Sharipahmira  Mohd  Zain1 1RCE  Penang,  Universiti  Sains  Malaysia 2School  of  Educational  Studies,  Universiti  Sains  Malaysia E-mail:  zohirusm@gmail.com* Abstract-Biodiversity  is  important  to  people  and  the  health  of  ecosystems.  It  became  one  of  the  ten  key  sustainable  development  issues in  Education  for  Sustainable  Development  by  UNESCO  and  in  goal  15  of  the  Sustainable Development  Goals  (SDGs)  by  UNDP.  Education  is  an  important  element  and  school  becomes  among  the  important  place  and  plays  a  significant  role  to  create  awareness,  knowledge  and  change  attitudes  towards  the  environment  (biodiversity).  This paper  analyse  instances  of  biodiversity  in  the  Malaysian  curriculum  using  a  content  analysis  technique  of  documents  focusing  on the  following  subjects:  Geography,  Sciences,  Languages  (English  and  Malay)  and  Mathematics.  The  purpose  of  this  paper  is  to  identify  “where &  when”  the  biodiversity  concept  and  issues  are  discussed  in  the  existing  secondary  school  curriculum.  This  brief  analysis  of  the  curriculum  shows  that  elements  of  biodiversity  are  integrated  either directly  or  indirectly  in  the  subjects  taught  in  secondary  school  curriculum  in  Malaysia. The  curriculum  emphasises  on  inquiry,  discovery  learning  through  experience  and  problem  solving  processes  that  utilised  scientific  and  thinking  skills.  The  curriculum also  emphasises  on  active  learning  approaches. Keywords:  biodiversity,  secondary  school  curriculum,  subjects,  integrated,  Malaysia I.  INTRODUCTION Biodiversity  is  important  to  people  and the  health  of  ecosystems.  It  became  one  of  the  ten  key  of  sustainable  development  issues  in  Education  for  Sustainable  Development  by  UNESCO  and  in  goal  15  of  the  Sustainable  Development  Goals  (SDGs)  by  UNDP.  In  other words,  conserving  biodiversity  is  key  to  achieving  sustainable  development  (Durham  Biodiversity  Partnership,  2016).  Education  is  essential  for  sustainable  development.  Citizens  of  the  world  need  to  learn  their  way  to  sustainability  (UNESCO,  2012).  School  becomes  among  the  important  place  and  plays  a  significant  role  in  the  education  of  tomorrow’s  citizens.  Introducing  biodiversity  in  the  curriculum  will  prepare  students  to  take  action  throughout  their  lives  to  protect  and  restore  biodiversity  in  their  own  communities  and  around  the  world  (National Wildlife  Federation, n.d.).  Teaching  and  learning  in  schools  depends on  the  curriculum  provided,  usually  a  national  curriculum.  This  paper  analyse  instances  of  biodiversity  concept  in  the  Malaysian  curriculum  using  a  content  analysis  technique  of  documents Proceedings  of  the  International  Conference  on  Climate  Change,  Biodiversity  and  Ecosystem  Services  for  the 177 Sustainable  Development  Goals  (SDGs):  Policy  and  Practice  27-29  June  2016,  Cha-am,  Phetchaburi,  Thailand


Proceedings of International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the Sustainable Development Goals : Policy and Practice 27-29 June 2016 at the Sirindhorn International Environmental Park, Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand
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