Leadership Skills of Organization Advisers, Students’ Attitudes and Their Engagement Toward Environmental Stewardship

Abstract

This quantitative descriptive-correlational study examined the leadership skills of Youth for Environment in School Organization (YES-O) advisers, students’ environmental attitudes, and their engagement in environmental stewardship in selected secondary schools in the Schools Division of Zamboanga del Norte. 180 YES-O officers and members served as the study’s respondents determined through stratified random sampling from small, medium, and large schools. Data were collected using validated researcher-made questionnaires assessing advisers’ leadership skills in organizational planning, communication, collaboration, and monitoring and evaluation; students’ proactive, cognitive, and affective attitudes; and engagement in participation, initiative, sustainability, and advocacy. Results revealed that advisers demonstrated very high leadership skills, while students exhibited highly positive environmental attitudes and high levels of engagement. Significant relationships were found between advisers’ leadership skills and student engagement, as well as between students’ attitudes and engagement. Further analysis indicated that specific dimensions of leadership practices and student attitudes significantly influenced engagement levels. The findings highlight the importance of effective adviser leadership and positive student attitudes in promoting active and sustained environmental stewardship, and support strengthening leadership development and student-led environmental initiatives.