SEMINAR: Asian Studies Seminar Series

This seminar presents work-in-progress on the theory and practice of Environmental Education (EE) in Indonesia. It uses the concept of responsibility as a refracting lens to identify different components of education about environmental responsibility in schools in Indonesia. To analyse the theory, I briefly examine the new (2013) curriculum for senior high schools, finding that the dominant discourse is a religious and creationist one, that sadly neglects environmental problems and sustainability issues and barely mentions environmental responsibility. To analyse the practice, I present ethnographic evidence of the implementation of the Adiwiyata program, which has been compulsorily implemented in schools in Surabaya, often through an environmental NGO. The program is dominated by its competitive nature and audit culture. Students enjoy the extra curricular activities, have fun with their friends, and appreciate the group nature of the activities. The top-down program does engage students in pro environment activity, as responsible agents, but often with little understanding of why they are doing what they are doing and of the causes of environmental problems. The paper concludes by asking if we can or should accept religious environmental education, and EE that is task and reward oriented rather than based on a deep understanding of environmental responsibility.