Awareness and Perceptions of Bamboo as Sustainable Construction Material among Grade 12 STEM Students

Abstract

Awareness among students regarding the benefits of bamboo in construction is crucial for promoting eco-friendly buildings and infrastructure. Bamboo offers several advantages over wood, including faster growth, greater sustainability, and easier shaping, as highlighted by Zen Ly (2014). This study aims to assess the awareness levels of Grade 12 STEM students on the benefits of using bamboo in construction, specifically in terms of it being a viable alternative to wood, a high-strength material, and a renewable resource. Using a purposive sampling method, fifty Grade 12 STEM-Engineering students participated in the survey. A 4-point Likert scale was employed to evaluate student perceptions of bamboo in construction, with options ranging from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree." Quantitative data collected from the survey was analyzed by calculating the mean/average of the students' responses. The findings indicate that the students are generally aware of the benefits of bamboo as an alternative to wood, a high-strength material, and a renewable resource, with an overall mean score of 3.04. This score falls within the 3.25 to 2.51 range on the awareness scale, indicating moderate awareness. These results highlight the need to integrate bamboo-related information into the curriculum to further enhance student awareness and promote the use of sustainable materials like bamboo in the construction industry. Encouraging the adoption of bamboo can help foster environmentally responsible infrastructure and reduce reliance on traditional wood and other non-renewable resources.