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Ag and Hort concerns bear fruit |
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(PPTA News November 2008, p.4)
The number of students taking up Agriculture is dropping drastically, as is the number of teachers prepared to tackle the subject. But steps are now in motion to protect the future of one of the country’s primary industries.
Concerns voiced by PPTA have been taken on board by the Primary Production Select Committee and one has already been acted on by government.
Earlier this year PPTA was asked by the committee to give its view on why fewer young people were taking up Agriculture as a subject at secondary school.
Former Agriculture/Horticulture senior subject advisor Ross Redpath, Agriculture teacher and PPTA executive member Brian Harrison and PPTA junior vice president Kate Gainsford shared their concerns about the future of Agriculture in schools.
These included the negative image of Agriculture, diffi culties in recruiting specialist teachers and the lack of recognition of excellence in the subject.
Of particular concern was the drop in Agriculture students since the introduction of NCEA. Gainsford told the committee that Agriculture was the only subject that did not move across to Scholarship when NCEA was introduced – which severely hurt its academic credibility.
The pressure in this area appears to have borne fruit however, with NZQA announcing last month that Agriculture and Horticulture students will be able to take scholarship exams from next year (2009). It is the fi rst in what PPTA hopes will be many victories in the bid to get these subjects recognised.
The select committee released its report last month, which picked up on a number of the issues PPTA put to it.
It strongly urged the government to acknowledge the issues in the report and put forward a number of solutions including reinstating Agriculture scholarships (which has already been done), re-introducing specialist subject advisors across the country, considering the introduction of teacher education scholarships for career changers willing to retrain as Agriculture teachers, widening access to Agriculture courses offered by the Correspondence School and urging the Ministry of Education to review its role of supporting schools to promote agriculture.
The committee acknowledged a “drastic” shortage of specialist teachers in the subject and pointed to the lack of continuing professional development for Agriculture teachers as one of the factors behind this.
“We are aware that there is also a lack of specialist agriculture advisors and resources to support them, both of which are sorely needed if there is to be a better and more equipped pool of skilled and willing Agriculture teachers,” the report reads.
The committee also agreed with PPTA’s concern about the poor public image of agriculture.
“There is a widespread perception that a career in agriculture is unfulfilling, involving too much hard work for little reward, and a farming career in particular is better suited to non-academic people …
“A more accurate awareness of the nature of work in the sector is needed. Working in the agriculture industry requires and accommodates a huge variety of talents and skills and should be able to attract a sizeable and capable workforce …” the report says.
The committee said the issues in the report needed to be addressed urgently by the government because New Zealand’s economy relies so heavily on agriculture and agriculture-related industries.
The PPTA is pleased the committee listened to its concerns and hopes its advice will be taken onboard by the incoming government. Download PPTA News November 2008 (pdf 612 KB)
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