Abstract

This study examines the level of conservation education in schools within selected communities surrounding the Old Oyo National Park. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed. Seven local communities were randomly sampled, in which 17 schools were purposively selected for the study based on their accessibility. Stratified sampling method was used to select the teachers and students to be interviewed. Data was collected through the use of structured and open-ended questionnaire. A total of 283 were interviewed. This study shows that conservation education is present in most of the schools sampled (87.3%). Conservation, although not solely taught as a subject but forms an integral topics in the curriculum of many subjects taught in schools. Therefore, the level of adoption of Conservation Education across the selected communities is quite low and there is need for government to introduce and adopt conservation education solely as a subject in schools’ curriculum.

Key Words: Teachers, students, Youth clubs, Challenges, Fauna, Rangeland