A new study has revealed that 87% of UK primary teachers are calling for more education on plastic pollution within the national curriculum. The research highlights a growing consensus among educators that plastic pollution is the most crucial environmental issue for primary-aged children to learn about, surpassing even the climate crisis and sustainability.
The study, commissioned by The Breteau Foundation, underscores the significant financial burden teachers are bearing to fill the gap in environmental education. Teachers have collectively spent £13 million of their own funds to create and implement educational resources about the environment. Despite this personal investment, half of the surveyed educators reported that their requests for comprehensive resources on plastic pollution have not been met.
While 66% of teachers acknowledge that plastic pollution is covered in their schools’ curriculum, 20% find this coverage to be superficial. Additionally, 60% of teachers noted a lack of practical solutions offered to mitigate the impact of plastics. The study also found that 98% of teachers feel a strong sense of responsibility towards addressing the plastic crisis, and 88% have reported that students are actively seeking ways to contribute to reducing plastic pollution.
Leanne Chorekdjian-Jojaghaian, a primary teacher at Kingsbury Green Primary School, expressed frustration with the current curriculum: “Our students are deeply concerned about plastic pollution and want to know how they can help. However, the existing curriculum doesn’t provide enough detail, which means their questions often remain unanswered. We need more support and resources to give our students a thorough understanding of this critical issue.”
In response to these concerns, The Breteau Foundation is set to launch the Plastic Changemakers initiative in September. The initiative, developed in collaboration with animation studios ZAG and Mediawan Kids & Family, aims to provide teachers with a comprehensive, free-of-charge Education Pack. This pack will include ready-to-use lesson plans and activities designed to empower children to become proactive in the fight against plastic pollution. Additionally, the initiative features an episode of the popular show Miraculous™: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir, titled “Action,” which will demonstrate how small actions can contribute to significant environmental change.
Sebastian Breteau, Founder of The Breteau Foundation, commented: “Our goal is to inspire over one million primary school children to become plastic changemakers. By equipping them with the right knowledge, we hope to kick-start a global movement towards responsible plastic use.”
Emma Becker, Executive Director at The Breteau Foundation, added: “The Plastic Changemakers Education Pack is designed to alleviate the pressure on teachers by providing them with expertly created resources. We want teachers to focus on delivering impactful lessons without the added burden of resource creation.”
The Education Pack and the “Action” episode will be available for download and streaming on The Breteau Foundation’s website starting in September. For more information or to register for updates, visit The Breteau Foundation’s Plastic Changemakers.
In addition to the initiative, The Breteau Foundation’s experts offer practical tips for reducing single-use plastic consumption. These include repurposing old clothes into cleaning rags, choosing loose fruits and vegetables, using reusable water bottles, switching to bamboo toothbrushes, bringing reusable bags, using Tupperware for packed meals, and asking critical questions about plastic use.
The study and forthcoming initiatives reflect a growing recognition of the need for enhanced environmental education and more robust measures to tackle plastic pollution in UK schools.
Contributed by: PA Media Press Centres