PART II Recent Trends and Developments in Government Policies in Education, Science and Culture
Chapter 3. Enhancing Primary and Secondary Education
Section 3. Education that Teaches Respect for the Environment and Education Designed to Increase Interest in and Understanding of Nature and Foster Scientific Perception and Thinking
1. The Significance and Current Status of Environmental Education in School Education
Environmental problems have become global issues, and many countries are now working to find solutions. In the context of school education, for many years children have learned about the environment through various subject areas, such as "social studies," "science," and "health and physical education," at the elementary, lower secondary, and upper secondary school levels. Today, schools teach children about the importance of nature through studies focusing on environmental problems in the community and through varied forms of hands-on learning in natural environments. The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture supports these efforts and is implementing a variety of measures to place an increased emphasis on environmental education.
