Educationist calls for reintroduction of school gardening system to promote agric in schools

An educationist is suggesting gardening be re introduced as a compulsory extra-curricular activity in both first and second-cycle institutions.

Headteacher of the Wawase Roman Catholic District Assembly Junior High School in Afigya Kwabre District of the Ashanti Region says this will prepare the youth to embrace farming.

Emmanuel Adjei-Larbi says it is time to back talk of luring the youth into agric with more concrete action than just lip-service.

Wawase Roman Catholic D/A JHS this year beat many other institutions including two senior high schools to pick the Best Institution in Agriculture Development award in the Afigya Kwabre in last Friday farmers day awards celebrations.

The School cultivates cowpea, cassava, maize and other crops on a seven -acre land, and uses proceeds from sale of the produce to support needy students and also to promote sporting activities.

Mr. Adjei-Larbi believes the school gardening system which was discontinued in the early 1990s contributed in nurturing the present crop of farmers in the country.

He however cautions against the tendency to use such farms as avenue to punish erring students, which he explains will rather compound misconception about farming.

District Chief Executive, Kaakyire Oppong-Kyekyeku is in support of Mr. Adjei-Larbi's suggestion, and says the district will set the pace in that direction.

Story by Ohemeng Tawiah/Nhyira Fm/Kumasi-Ghana