By Denise Clarke, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
A DECLINE in the number of students enrolling in agricultural schools has prompted the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture to stage an exposition to promote the programmes in these institutions.
The Agricultural Education Exposition will be held today at the Sydney Pagon Agricultural School in St. Elizabeth, under the theme 'Agricultural Education in Action'. The Senior Education Officer for Agricultural Education in the Technical and Vocational Unit of the Ministry, Lance Duhaney, said the decline in enrolment in the agricultural schools is due mainly to the reforms in the secondary education system. He explained that whereas the former All-age schools were the feeder schools for the agricultural institutions under the old system, the reforms have pointed vocational students away from the agricultural schools.
A GOOD CHOICE
"Now that we are not getting the flow of students from the All-age schools into the system, the agricultural schools have to do more to promote themselves, to tell parents and the public in general that agriculture is a good choice," Mr. Duhaney explained. He noted that there is a stigma attached to agriculture, whereby many persons view the field as 'hard work' and nothing more. However, he added that the Exposition aims to spread the word that agriculture is a worthwhile vocational choice.
The exposition is being staged by the Agricultural Education Section of the Ministry in association with the Sydney Pagon and Knockalva agricultural schools. Aside from the promotion of the programmes offered by these institutions, the expo will seek to provide information about the various career choices that exist in agriculture, and to highlight the importance of agriculture to the country's economy.
A variety of displays reflecting technologies and innovations in agriculture will be on show, and attendees will be treated to best practice demonstrations in Livestock and agronomy, guided farm tours and agricultural talent. The President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society, Senator Norman Grant, is scheduled to give the keynote address.
