International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education
Editors: A/Prof John Lidstone, Queensland University of Technology and Prof Joseph P. Stoltman, Western Michigan University
Book Review Editor: Dr Sarah Witham Bednarz, Texas A & M University
Editorial Assistant: Donna Bennett, Australia
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Volume: 17 Number: 3 Page: 250–267
doi:10.1080/10382040802168347
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Research article
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Schools Serving as Centres for Dissemination of Alternative Energy Know-How and Technologies: Evidence from Southern Ethiopia
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Aklilu Dalelo
Department of Geography and Environmental Education, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Graduate Programs and Research, College of Education, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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The school curricula are widely believed to be the best vehicle for generating public awareness of and action related to areas of energy concern. In an attempt to build the capacity of schools to address key environmental issues in Ethiopia, a pilot project had been designed in 2004. The principal aim of the project was to bring about positive changes on the biophysical environment by using primary schools as change centres and teachers and students as change agents. Eleven upper level primary schools have been selected from most environmentally degraded districts. The major activities meant to achieve the aim of the pilot project include, among others, dissemination of alternative energy know-how and technologies using primary schools. This paper reports the findings of a comprehensive study conducted to examine the extent to which the aforementioned objective has been achieved. The results indicate that alternative energy technologies installed in the school compounds attracted the attention of individuals and community-based organisations such as churches. Tens of such institutions and hundreds of individuals have already presented their requests to buy solar home systems and solar lanterns. The demand for improved cooking stoves was also found to be very high. Though the pilot project is still in progress, there is sufficient evidence to conclude that schools in Ethiopia could act not only as centres of dissemination of knowledge about environmental problems retarding the country's development, but also as centres where skills are developed to seek sustainable solutions to these problems. Recommendations have, therefore, been made to scale up the project and eventually cover all upper level primary schools and their satellite lower level schools.
Keywords: community, energy, environment, Ethiopia, schools, technology
Copyright © 2008 Taylor & Francis
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