Pendidikan Awam untuk Pemuliharaan Warisan: Kajian Kes Langkawi Geopark (Public Education for Heritage Conservation: A Case Study of Langkawi Geopark)

Abstract

This article discusses the research findings on public education for heritage conservation. The research aims to determine the level of awareness and understanding on geopark and heritage conservation from the perspectives of the various stakeholders. The data gathered from the study serves as important baseline information in preparing tools and mechanism for public education as well as educational tools and programmes to promote understanding and awareness among the various stakeholders of geopark. This research also seeks to summarise various approaches to non-formal education and awareness programmes from local community. The sample comprises various stakeholders, namely the local authorities, hoteliers and resort managers, tourist operators and tourists, local community, students and teachers. The findings of the study indicate relatively low levels of awareness and understanding among the stakeholders mainly regarding the geopark concept, heritage conservation and role of Langkawi geopark in the local community socioeconomic development activities. Thus, effective and innovative development tools and public educational mechanisms are crucial to address the findings of this study. The development of tools and mechanisms for public education must give emphasis to: 1) level of understanding of the targeted group in developing content; 2) inculcation of shared values particularly those that bring benefits to regional sustainable development and community livelihood; 3) conservation of geological, biological and cultural heritage should initially be separately taught, but eventually, these components must be taught in an integrated manner; 4) introduction of tourism-based products related to geopark; and 5) education on geopark in schools should be systematically planned and implemented. Suffice to say that the development of the approaches and strategies for effective public education must give priority to the needs, interest and abilities of the target groups i.e. the stakeholders for optimal effectiveness of public education programmes.

Keywords: Public education, heritage conservation, stakeholders, community development, geopark

ABSTRAK

Makalah ini membincangkan dapatan kajian mengenai pendidikan awam untuk pemuliharaan warisan. Kajian bertujuan menentukan tahap pemahaman, maksud dan konsep (pengetahuan) mengenai geopark dan pemuliharaan warisan. Maklumat terkumpul penting untuk dijadikan asas bagi menyediakan peralatan dan mekanisma pendidikan tak rasmi (informal) dan bukan rasmi (non-formal), dan bahan untuk mempromosikan pemahaman dan kesedaran pelbagai pihak berkepentingan mengenai geopark. Kajian ini juga bermatlamat merumus beberapa pendekatan pendidikan awam dan program kesedaran komuniti tempatan. Pihak berkepentingan yang dipilih terdiri daripada agensi pelaksana, pengusaha hotel dan resort, operator pelancongan dan pelancong, komuniti tempatan, serta pelajar dan guru sekolah. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa kesedaran dan pemahaman kebanyakan pihak berkepentingan terhadap konsep geopark, pemuliharaan warisan dan kepentingan Langkawi Geopark untuk membangunkan tahap sosio-ekonomi komuniti tempatan adalah masih rendah. Pembangunan peralatan, bahan dan mekanisma pendidikan awam perlu memberikan pertimbangan kepada beberapa perkara berikut: 1) tahap kefahaman pihak berkepentingan semasa perlu dijadikan asas untuk menyediakan kandungan; 2) penerapan nilai bersama, khususnya faedah untuk kelestarian wilayah dan kesejahteraan komuniti diberikan penekanan utama; 3) aspek pemuliharaan warisan geologi, biologi dan budaya boleh diterapkan secara berasingan dan secara beransur-ansur memperkenalkan konsep pemuliharaan warisan bersepadu; 4) memperkenalkan kepentingan pembangunan produk pelancongan, khususnya produk yang berasaskan geopark; dan 5) pendidikan geopark di sekolah di Langkawi dibangunkan secara bersistem. Pembangunan pendekatan dan strategi pendidikan awam yang berkesan perlu memberikan perhatian utama terhadap kepentingan matlamat pendidikan untuk pelbagai pihak berkepentingan dan hasrat yang ingin dicapai.

Kata kunci: Pendidikan awam, pemuliharaan warisan, pihak berkepentingan, pembangunan komuniti, geopark