Knowledge and Opinions Amongst Youths in Secondary …
527
Table 5 Opinions on sustainable development in Malaysia
Item
Mean
Std.
Deviation
1. Each youth must practice a sustainable lifestyle
4.14
0.93
2. Youth need to promote sustainability and sustainable development 4.03
0.86
3. Youth must be willing to change their lifestyle towards sustainable
development
4.09
0.85
4. Youth should cooperate with the government in building strategies
for sustainable development
4.09
0.86
5. Create association/student club related to sustainability in
school/college
4.02
0.86
6. Create a green environment in college
4.33
0.83
7. Integrate elements of sustainability into curriculum at all levels of
education
3.82
0.92
8. The government should increase youth leadership in sustainability
issues
4.01
0.85
9. Implement sustainability elements in every national policy
development
3.98
0.86
10. Government and society should cooperate in maintaining the
ecosystem in the country and use natural resources efficiently
4.15
0.88
11. The government should consider the opinion of the youth in
building a policy for sustainable development
4.06
0.90
12. Each nation must mobilize their youth to develop their
understanding of challenges in sustainable development
nowadays
4.04
0.87
13. Each country should develop Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs), which emphasizes the role of youth in achieving a
sustained worldwide
3.95
0.91
14. Youth ministry and NGOs around the world should be able to
encourage and assist the youth to acquire knowledge and skills
necessary to promote sustainable development
4.08
0.88
7—‘integrate elements of sustainability into curriculum at all levels of education’.
Further study should be carried out regarding this matter before our education curricula starts to implement sustainable development elements in the education system.
5 Conclusion: The Effectiveness of the ESD Program
and Youth’s Role in Sustainable Development Agenda
In general, this study has shown that the level of knowledge on sustainable development amongst youths in Penang is well-developed in many of the youths. However,
majority of youths lacked knowledge and understanding regarding components of
527
Table 5 Opinions on sustainable development in Malaysia
Item
Mean
Std.
Deviation
1. Each youth must practice a sustainable lifestyle
4.14
0.93
2. Youth need to promote sustainability and sustainable development 4.03
0.86
3. Youth must be willing to change their lifestyle towards sustainable
development
4.09
0.85
4. Youth should cooperate with the government in building strategies
for sustainable development
4.09
0.86
5. Create association/student club related to sustainability in
school/college
4.02
0.86
6. Create a green environment in college
4.33
0.83
7. Integrate elements of sustainability into curriculum at all levels of
education
3.82
0.92
8. The government should increase youth leadership in sustainability
issues
4.01
0.85
9. Implement sustainability elements in every national policy
development
3.98
0.86
10. Government and society should cooperate in maintaining the
ecosystem in the country and use natural resources efficiently
4.15
0.88
11. The government should consider the opinion of the youth in
building a policy for sustainable development
4.06
0.90
12. Each nation must mobilize their youth to develop their
understanding of challenges in sustainable development
nowadays
4.04
0.87
13. Each country should develop Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs), which emphasizes the role of youth in achieving a
sustained worldwide
3.95
0.91
14. Youth ministry and NGOs around the world should be able to
encourage and assist the youth to acquire knowledge and skills
necessary to promote sustainable development
4.08
0.88
7—‘integrate elements of sustainability into curriculum at all levels of education’.
Further study should be carried out regarding this matter before our education curricula starts to implement sustainable development elements in the education system.
5 Conclusion: The Effectiveness of the ESD Program
and Youth’s Role in Sustainable Development Agenda
In general, this study has shown that the level of knowledge on sustainable development amongst youths in Penang is well-developed in many of the youths. However,
majority of youths lacked knowledge and understanding regarding components of