FEW other leaving certificate subjects need practical lessons as much as agricultural science.
The birth of a calf, grassland management and farm machinery are only a few examples of on-farm activities which can only be fully understood outside of the classroom.
In an effort to combat this problem and improve the learning resources available to agricultural science students, Agri Aware, in conjunction with Teagasc and IASTA, have developed a practical support day for agricultural science teachers and students.
The event will be held at each of the Teagasc agricultural colleges in February. Schools across the country will be within a reasonable distance of their nearest college, thereby limiting cost and school time needed for travel.
The open day itself will include a tour of the college farm, enabling visualisation of daily activities. It will also include a series of practical demonstrations which cannot be easily explained in class.
Agri Aware chairman Mairead Lavery says: “Despite the disgraceful fact that the leaving certificate agricultural science syllabus is over 40 years old, students still need current, up-to-date information on the daily running of a farm. It is essential that organisations such as Agri Aware continue to support students in ventures such as this. Well-educated students are needed as these are the future leaders of Ireland’s biggest indigenous industry.”
Paddy Browne, head of education at Teagasc, says: “We are delighted to be supporting Agri Aware and IASTA in this on-farm activity which, we hope, will become a yearly event. We are optimistic that the students’ day on one of our college farms will be particularly beneficial, especially when they are sitting their leaving certificate exam.
“We are also hopeful that after their trip, some students may consider continuing their study of agriculture after the leaving certificate.”
The Agricultural Science Practical Open Day is just one of the numerous teaching aids Agri Aware makes available to students.
Other resources include a weekly study guide which runs in the Irish Farmer’s Journal, as well as educational posters. The most recent booklet developed and supplied to students is an A-Z Dictionary of Agricultural Science Terms.