Assessment of Environmental Science Knowledge Among Primary School Pupils in Bauchi State

This study assessed the level of Environmental Science knowledge among primary school pupils in Bauchi State, Nigeria. Environmental awareness at the foundational education level is increasingly viewed as vital for cultivating a generation of environmentally responsible citizens, especially given the ecological vulnerabilities of the North East geopolitical zone. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The target population comprised Primary 5 and Primary 6 pupils in public and private primary schools across Bauchi, Dass, and Tafawa Balewa Local Government Areas. A sample of 420 pupils was selected through stratified random sampling. A researcher-constructed Environmental Science Knowledge Test comprising 30 items validated by science education experts and environmental scientists was administered. Reliability was established at 0.75 using the Kuder-Richardson formula. Data were analysed using frequency counts, percentages, and mean scores. Results indicated low to moderate knowledge levels, with pupils performing comparatively better on topics covered within their textbooks, such as pollution and water, but poorly on climate change effects and conservation strategies. Urban pupils outperformed rural pupils in most knowledge domains. The study recommended curriculum enrichment to include practical environmental activities, deployment of environmental education resource centres, and teacher refresher training in environmental science content. Keywords: environmental science, primary education, knowledge assessment, Bauchi State, environmental awareness.