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Minority Education teachers’ views of the Regional Unit of Rhodope on contemporary environmental issues (Bachelor thesis)

Σερήφ, Αχμέτ/ Μολλά Χουσεΐν, Χασάν/ Αρήφ Οσμάν, Μεμέτ/ Serif, Achmet/ Molla Chousein, Chasan/ Arif Osman, Memet

This study investigates the views, attitudes, and practices of teachers serving in Minority Education in the Regional Unit of Rhodope regarding modern environmental problems. The aim of the study is to highlight how educators perceive the environmental crisis at both local and national levels, as well as to record the obstacles they encounter in the educational process. The research adopted a mixed methodological approach. Quantitative data were utilized from 76 questionnaires, alongside qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with 10 teachers from the region. The combined analysis allowed for a holistic understanding of the subject, taking into account the distinct cultural and educational context of Thrace. The results demonstrated that teachers prioritize environmental threats differently depending on the geographical scale; while climate change is considered a major national problem, concerns about fires, deforestation, and drought dominate at the local level. Despite a high sense of individual responsibility and a positive attitude towards Environmental Education, significant obstacles were identified, such as a lack of training, time, and material infrastructure. Conclusively, the study highlights the need for institutional support for teachers, while proposing the utilization of local cultural identity as a vehicle for cultivating environmental consciousness, linking the love for the place with the protection of the natural environment.