Development of the environmental education in higher studies in Bangladesh : an approach for environmental sustainability.

The environmental studies in higher education are traditionally an old idea compared to other education in the world education systems which is not an exception to Bangladesh along with other South Asian countries. Since her inception in 1971, Bangladesh began to reorganize her education policy due to the British colonial administration. In order to update and reorganize this system, some Education Commissions such as the Khudrat-e-Khuda Commission1972, the Mofiz uddin Education Commission 1979 etc; have been made. Some plans and strategies such a the First Five-Year Plan, 1973-78, the Second Year Plan, 1978-80, the Third Five Year Plan, 1985-90, Fourth Five Year Plan, 1990-95 are also made in this regard. But it is observed that the initiatives regarding the environmentaleducation in higher studies are poorly and inadequately organized as per the present needs of the day in higher studies in Bangladesh. It is promising that after nineties, the environmental education has been rapidly developing due to many causes such as impacts of globalization, growth of population, environmental degradation etc. It is noted that the Government passed some important laws related to environment such as the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act 1995; the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Rules 1992; the Environment Policy 1992; and Environment Conservation Act 2000 etc., replacing the Environment Pollution Control Ordinance, 1977 with thecreation of the Department of Environment as part of environmental studies in higher education in order to conserve and develop the environmental situation in Bangladesh which are not properly implemented die to some technical constraints. Moreover, the Government of Bangladesh passed some international environmental education policies in this regard. In 1992, a remarkable decision has been taken under the education policy and the Private Universities Act 1992 was introduced.. Under this Act, at present around 52 private universities have been working in Bangladesh and it regrets that the environmental studies in the most of the private universities are rarely done. More than 30 public universities including some specialized universities are also working in Bangladesh. The study finds that there are some environmental studies and Departments along with some institutions serving the country which are not quite sufficient and healthy to the needs of the generations. Nevertheless, from our boyhood, it is found thatour teachers at the primary and secondary levels would teach us the geography which could not be forgotten for ever. Currently, the Government of Bangladesh is healthy to the environmental education and has been taking many initiatives in this regard for our own existence and interest on the earth, our home. This study will provide an 9verview of the environmental education in the different universities in Bangladesh based on the primary and secondary sources. A Case study may be done in the University of Malaya where some lecturers, students and other categories of people have been working.