The Role of History Education in Shaping Environmental Awareness and Cultural Revivalism among Student-Teachers: A Study of FCT College of Education, Zuba, Abuja
Abstract
Environmental degradation and cultural erosion have become two of the most pressing challenges confronting Nigeria in the twenty-first century. While environmental challenges such as deforestation, flooding, desertification and pollution continue to threaten sustainable development, the nation's rich cultural heritage is increasingly being undermined by globalization, urbanization and changing social values. This study examines the role of History Education in shaping environmental awareness and promoting cultural revivalism among student-teachers, using the FCT College of Education, Zuba, Abuja, as case study. The study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative research. Data were generated through structured questionnaires administered to NCE II and NCE III History students and interviews conducted with lecturers in the History Department. Relevant literature and the History curriculum were also reviewed to provide theoretical and contextual support for the study. Findings reveal that History Education can play significant role in promoting environmental consciousness by exposing students to indigenous conservation practices, traditional ecological knowledge and sustainable resource management systems that characterized pre-colonial African societies. The study further establishes that the teaching of Nigerian and African history strengthens students' appreciation of their cultural heritage, thereby promoting cultural identity, patriotism and cultural revivalism. However, the study also identifies inadequate curriculum content, limited instructional resources, insufficient field-based learning opportunities and inadequate attention to environmental history as major constraints.
Keywords: History Education, Environmental Awareness, Cultural Revivalism, Indigenous Knowledge, Sustainable Development, Teacher Education.
