Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to assess the environmental issues on some campuses of the
University of Education, Winneba, particularly, on areas pertaining to waste management
behaviour and practices. The study was carried out in Kumasi, Winneba and Mampong
Campuses of the University. All staff and students of University of Education were the
target populations but 734 participants were sampled from the accessible population.
Questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions and Document Analysis were used as
instruments for data collection. Data collected were subjected to descriptive analysis using
SPSS Version 16.0. Data analysed were converted into cross tabulation, frequencies,
percentages, means and standard deviations. Again, Chi-square, t-test, ANOVA and
multiple comparison tests were employed to examine the hypothesis and Focus Group
Discussion (FGD). The results revealed that the staff and students of University of
Education, Winneba had knowledge, and were aware of the waste problems on their
various campuses. This was confirmed by 70% of the respondents who agreed to the waste
problems as well as the poor waste management practices on their campuses. The major
contributors to pollution and waste on the campuses as identified by the study were open
burning (Mean, 2.40) and falling off posters (Mean, 2.42). Land filling (Frequency, 134.7)
was indicated to be the main waste disposal method. Also, the study showed that
propensity of waste management contrasts by sex, class and level of awareness, knowledge
and practices regarding waste. These findings have great implications for waste
management practices, not only in the educational institutions but the country at large. It
highlighted on the need to increase awareness and re-echo the need for behavioural and
attitudinal change which is a catalyst to waste reduction, reuse and recycling.
Description:
A thesis in the Department of Science Education, Faculty of Science Education
submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, University of Education, Winneba, in
partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of MASTER OF
PHILOSOPHY in Science Education
JUNE, 2015