Uzbekistan's Path to Ecological Enlightenment: Cultural Perspectives

Makhliyokhon Mirzakarimova

and Mohinur Uzoqjonova

Andijan State Institute of Foreign Languages, Andijan, Uzbekistan

Andijan State Pedagogical Institute, Andijan, Uzbekistan

Keywords: Ecological Culture, Environment, Ecological Education, Ecological Safety, Universe.

Abstract: There is an urgent call to embed ecological awareness into educational curricula and enhance the efficacy of

environmental education. This article underscores the imperative of refining the theoretical underpinnings of

environmental education and training, drawing insights from international best practices while honouring

national values and ethos. It advocates for aligning educational strategies with contemporary demands,

emphasising the need to cultivate ecological consciousness within the younger generation. By synthesising

global expertise with local perspectives, this approach aims to address pressing environmental challenges

effectively. The article contends that by integrating ecological principles into educational frameworks, we can

nurture environmentally responsible citizens equipped to confront the complex ecological issues of our time.

Thus, it calls for a concerted effort to elevate the standards of ecological education, fostering a deep-rooted

commitment to sustainable practices and environmental stewardship among learners.

1 INTRODUCTION

The protection of the environment and stabilization of

the global ecological situation depend on human

consciousness, thinking, intelligence, intellectual

potential, and the formation of a high culture and

outlook on nature, geoculture, and personal hygiene.

Special attention is paid to the issues of revision,

environmental education, and environmental

enlightenment. Four of the 17 goals outlined in the

UN's 'Sustainable Development (Karshiyeva, 2016).

Concepts are dedicated to ecological

responsibility, environmental protection, and the

rational use of natural resources. One of these goals

is 'quality education', which includes the

improvement of environmental education. This is an

urgent task for the successful implementation of these

priorities. International organizations require the

development of new, innovative methods for

personnel training at the national level and their

integration into the continuous education system.

This requires a review of the scientific and theoretical

foundations of environmental education and training

(Uzokjonova, 2023).

There are leading research centres and institutes

in Switzerland, Iceland, the USA, Japan, and South

Korea that are conducting research in this area. In

conclusion, Plab research is mentioned. In many

developed countries, environmental culture

principles are being applied to all aspects of

environmental protection, service provision,

agriculture, social protection, and sustainable

development (Mirzakarimova, 2022).

Therefore, it is vital to enhance environmental

education in international education, promote

ecological enlightenment and responsibility, and

encourage rational use of nature. In Uzbekistan,

measures are being taken to improve the stability of

nature, ecosystems, and the environment through the

development of environmental education and

training, scientific research, and national legislation.

Additionally, efforts are being made to increase the

ecological culture of the population. The 'Concept for

the Development of Environmental Education in the

Republic of Uzbekistan' (May 27, 2019) aims to

establish the main principles of environmental

education in the continuous education system and

apply them consistently to the educational process.

The goal is to enhance the effectiveness of

environmental education. This highlights the

necessity of enhancing the theoretical underpinnings

of ecological education and training, drawing on both

international experience and national perspectives, in

line with contemporary demands.

Mirzakarimova, M. and Uzoqjonova, M.

Uzbekistan’s Path to Ecological Enlightenment: Cultural Perspectives.

DOI: 10.5220/0012943200003882

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 2nd Pamir Transboundary Conference for Sustainable Societies (PAMIR-2 2023), pages 1029-1032

ISBN: 978-989-758-723-8

1029

2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The urgency to enhance the theoretical foundations of

the ecological education system is increasing. The

primary challenge in this process is the development

of methodological and pedagogical aspects of

environmental education. The Republic of

Uzbekistan's environmental education considers the

global significance of environmental issues. In recent

years, there has been a growing focus on

environmental protection, culture, education, and

enlightenment as key priorities. Ecological education

is particularly important for safeguarding our

country's nature, ecosystems, and environment from

instability and harm. It also aims to raise

environmental awareness among the population,

especially young people, and address these critical

issues. Therefore, environmental education and

upbringing are crucial in addressing these problems.

In 2017-2018, significant changes were made to

environmental policy and national education. It is

essential to consider the legal, political, and social

context when developing ecological education

methodology. For example, the 'State Committee for

Nature Protection' was renamed the 'State Committee

for Ecology and Environmental Protection' by the

Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

No. PF-5024, signed on April 21, 2017. The

committee was given various responsibilities related

to improving the ecological situation and promoting

environmental awareness and culture among the

population.

The activities of the committee's 'Sustainable

Development Council' were also reviewed. The

department of environmental education was assigned

the task of reviewing the UN's 'Sustainable

Development Concept', taking into account recent

educational reforms.

To integrate methods for environmental

education into the national education system, it is

essential to first identify, analyse, and determine the

real conditions and factors that affect them. This

section covers the social status of the local

population, including employment and social

protection, as well as their attitudes towards the

environment and natural surroundings. Economic

opportunity is linked to the material and financial

resources used in education, while the ecological

situation is related to the practical application of

methods. To maintain the need for certain methods in

practice, it is important to ensure that the legal basis

of environmental education aligns with the foreign

and domestic policies of the state.

3 RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Environmental education is gaining importance in

Uzbekistan due to the global environmental crisis,

pollution, and related issues. The eco-movement

needs to become an active cause, with a focus on

improving the environmental culture of the

population. Administrative means alone cannot solve

these problems. To foster an appreciation for the

natural world among young people and instil a sense

of connection to it is crucial.

As Uzbekistan strives to become a developed

nation, rapid reforms, scientific advancements, and

innovation are imperative. To accomplish this, it is

vital to educate a new generation of skilled

professionals who can lead reform efforts proactively

and think strategically. As a result, we have

implemented reforms at all levels of education, from

early childhood to higher education. The significance

of education as a primary driver of development is

growing in today's world. The level and quality of life

of a population are crucial indicators of a country's

competitiveness, and societies and civilizations are

primarily competing based on social values and

educational systems. Therefore, developing a general

outlook of society and forming a reasonable attitude

towards nature through continuous education is an

urgent task. Through ecological education and

upbringing, individuals, including young people, gain

an understanding of planet Earth as the only known

habitat for life in the universe. They acquire

knowledge about their living environment, the

interconnectedness of the world around us, and the

relationship between nature and humanity. This text

discusses scientific-theoretical worldviews and

ecological systems (ecosystems) in the country and its

homeland.

The text covers the emergence, evolutionary

development, anthropogenic changes, laws of

distribution in space and area, characteristics, wealth,

condition, and future prospects of the subject.

Additionally, it explores the national, regional, and

global relations of nature and society. In addition, it

covers practical environmental skills and

competencies, as well as understanding and solving

problems related to protecting the Earth's surface

environment, using its resources rationally, and

restoring damaged natural systems. Lastly, it

emphasizes the significance of environmental

education and upbringing in developing the

competence to make sound decisions in one's chosen

profession. Environmental security is a critical

component of national security, distinct from other

security factors due to its covert nature. Therefore,

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training qualified environmental personnel in the

national education system is one of the most pressing

issues of our time. The 1972 Stockholm conference

on the environment recommended the creation of an

international program of environmental education.

Ecological education is based on the 'man-society-

nature' relationship and is the foundation for training

personnel in environmental protection. The

importance of ecological education in implementing

the strategy for achieving sustainable development

was emphasized at the UN conference 'Rio+20'.

Uzbekistan has also recognized the significance

of environmental education and is taking steps to

improve it. Environmental education and training

started earlier in countries such as Northern Europe

and America, where the focus was on monitoring

environmental conditions at all stages.

The regulation of integrating environmental

protection concerns into all aspects of both internal

and external policies of these nations was intensified,

and the international community's focus was directed

towards ensuring that all human activities in the

environment align with the principles of sustainable

development. A noteworthy feature of this new

approach is that the public is granted extensive rights

to access and distribute various environmental

information freely.

In the top 20 countries and regions with the

highest ecological standards, educational programs

aim to cultivate an 'Ecologically cultured person'

from pre-school. The primary objective is to instil the

first elements of ecological culture in children

through environmental education and upbringing. In

Western Europe, there is a general effort to provide

children with opportunities for ecological education

and upbringing from an early age. Additionally,

interaction with and care for wild and domestic

animals in special farms is promoted.

In Austria, vocational environmental education

and training are included in the school curriculum.

This includes the organization of special school

projects such as 'School garden', 'Environmental

history', 'Ecology at school', 'Ecological workshop',

and 'Creativity for nature', as well as carrying out

nature protection actions like 'Ozone' and 'Alpine

activities'. In addition, the development of didactic

materials and training manuals, as well as seminars

and retraining courses for specialists involved in

children's environmental education, should be

considered.

Publications on environmental education topics in

magazines and newspapers can also be beneficial. It

is recommended to create special environmental

education programs titled 'Environment, School and

Community' to further promote this cause. A national

data bank should be established to address

environmental education issues, and coordination

functions should be implemented.

Environmental education for children

encompasses both school and extracurricular

activities. It aims to promote environmental

awareness and provide guidance to teachers and

professionals who wish to participate in related

projects.

In Japan, environmental education programs are

implemented at all levels of national vocational

training to cultivate individuals with a strong

environmental consciousness. The Japanese are not

known for their religiosity, and instead of icons, they

often use a vase of flowers as an altar of beauty.

Ikebana, the art of flower arrangement, is well-known

throughout the world. The Japanese attitude towards

nature is a unique national psychology based on

collective consciousness, which is why

environmental education has a long history in Japan.

Environmental education and upbringing in the

United States of America are considered to have a

different form, direction, and methodological

approach. The deep penetration of environmental

ethics into all aspects of education and upbringing

aims to foster a population that is careful and

responsible towards the environment. This is

achieved through the involvement of the general

public, especially non-governmental organizations.

Environmental education aims to change people's

attitudes towards nature, form behavioural and

environmental stereotypes, promote economic and

social development, and encourage the adoption of

new principles of professional ethics by individuals

and states. It also aims to promote culture and justice,

establish restrictions and prohibitions, and develop

laws for the ecosphere.

The qualities defining ecological education are

aimed at developing the ecological culture of young

people. The focus of this text is on fostering a sense

of patriotism and moral values among students

towards their home, neighbourhood, and city. It also

aims to instil a sense of personal responsibility

towards nature and encourage an interest in

preserving it through the acquisition of deep

knowledge. The ecological values of the Uzbek

people, preservation and respect for nature and

cultural values, and respect for religious values

strengthen these qualities.

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4 CONCLUSION

The primary aim of the qualities presented in the

context of the global ecological crisis is to promote an

ecological worldview based on new ethics and values

that are compatible with the level of civilization in the

21st century and the significant anthropogenic effects

that threaten nature. In conclusion, the effectiveness

of experimental work aimed at developing

environmental education skills in students depends on

the use of a specific methodology and adherence to its

principles. Based on the above considerations, it can

be concluded that the aim of ecological education is

to prepare individuals with ecological awareness to

ensure the safety of life activities. Environmental

education is typically the means through which this is

achieved and is evaluated by environmental culture.

Only individuals with a high level of ecological

spirituality and enlightenment can effectively apply

the competencies acquired through ecological

education to cultural indicators. Ecological

education, upbringing, and practice focus on three

areas: protecting ecosystems, using natural resources

rationally, and restoring damaged ecosystems.

Drawing on foreign experience, the

environmental protection policy in North America

and Northern Europe places a high priority on

regulating the environment at all phases. Concerns

about environmental preservation are incorporated

into all facets of both internal and external policy, and

the international community is focused on making

sure that human activity conforms to the sustainable

development principles.

This new strategy is notable for granting the

public broad rights to freely access and disseminate a

variety of environmental information. Studying the

interrelation of environmental education components

is part of the process by which ecologists develop

their professional competencies. This is important

because of the unique qualities of the ecological

profession and societal need.

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