From Policy to Practice: Unpacking the Politics and Realities of Environmental Education Policy in Chinese Primary Schools

In recent years, China’s strong commitment to the political agenda of ecological civilisation has increased the presence of environmental education (EE) in the policy arena. Using the waste classification policy as an example, this research explores the implementation of EE policy in two Chinese pri...

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Main Author: Ronghui (Kevin) Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2024-06-01
Series:Australian Journal of Environmental Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S081406262400048X/type/journal_article
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author Ronghui (Kevin) Zhou
author_facet Ronghui (Kevin) Zhou
author_sort Ronghui (Kevin) Zhou
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, China’s strong commitment to the political agenda of ecological civilisation has increased the presence of environmental education (EE) in the policy arena. Using the waste classification policy as an example, this research explores the implementation of EE policy in two Chinese primary schools. Through the use of a policy enactment framework, the findings reveal that contextual factors such as school enrolment, infrastructure and external influences from the District Bureau greatly influence the schools’ policy capacity. By exploring the internal policy flow and school artefacts, it was found that although the waste classification policy was enacted similarly in the selected primary schools, the outcomes differed significantly. These variations highlight the complexities and challenges of implementing an EE policy under ecological civilisation and contribute to the understanding of the tension between localised adaptations and the nationally politicised EE policy mandates.
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publisher Cambridge University Press
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series Australian Journal of Environmental Education
spelling doaj-art-a08a7ebf821c4fc4a8b5d78f1508ee5f2025-08-20T04:02:27ZengCambridge University PressAustralian Journal of Environmental Education0814-06262049-775X2024-06-014061262710.1017/aee.2024.48From Policy to Practice: Unpacking the Politics and Realities of Environmental Education Policy in Chinese Primary SchoolsRonghui (Kevin) Zhou0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4147-4232School for Cross-faculty Studies, University of Warwick, Coventry, UKIn recent years, China’s strong commitment to the political agenda of ecological civilisation has increased the presence of environmental education (EE) in the policy arena. Using the waste classification policy as an example, this research explores the implementation of EE policy in two Chinese primary schools. Through the use of a policy enactment framework, the findings reveal that contextual factors such as school enrolment, infrastructure and external influences from the District Bureau greatly influence the schools’ policy capacity. By exploring the internal policy flow and school artefacts, it was found that although the waste classification policy was enacted similarly in the selected primary schools, the outcomes differed significantly. These variations highlight the complexities and challenges of implementing an EE policy under ecological civilisation and contribute to the understanding of the tension between localised adaptations and the nationally politicised EE policy mandates.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S081406262400048X/type/journal_articleChinaenvironmental educationpolicyprimary schoolwaste classification
spellingShingle Ronghui (Kevin) Zhou
From Policy to Practice: Unpacking the Politics and Realities of Environmental Education Policy in Chinese Primary Schools
Australian Journal of Environmental Education
China
environmental education
policy
primary school
waste classification
title From Policy to Practice: Unpacking the Politics and Realities of Environmental Education Policy in Chinese Primary Schools
title_full From Policy to Practice: Unpacking the Politics and Realities of Environmental Education Policy in Chinese Primary Schools
title_fullStr From Policy to Practice: Unpacking the Politics and Realities of Environmental Education Policy in Chinese Primary Schools
title_full_unstemmed From Policy to Practice: Unpacking the Politics and Realities of Environmental Education Policy in Chinese Primary Schools
title_short From Policy to Practice: Unpacking the Politics and Realities of Environmental Education Policy in Chinese Primary Schools
title_sort from policy to practice unpacking the politics and realities of environmental education policy in chinese primary schools
topic China
environmental education
policy
primary school
waste classification
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S081406262400048X/type/journal_article
work_keys_str_mv AT ronghuikevinzhou frompolicytopracticeunpackingthepoliticsandrealitiesofenvironmentaleducationpolicyinchineseprimaryschools