Growing Greatness: Agricultural Education Meeting Highlights by Brent Simon

On January 14, 2025, the Ministry of Education’s Agricultural Science Department convened at the Multipurpose Center for a pivotal Meeting with Heads of Department and Lead Teachers of the science. Under the inspiring theme, “Growing Greatness!”, the event set the stage for a continued focus on sustainable agricultural practices and academic excellence in agricultural education.

The meeting included a review of the CSEC Agricultural Science Single Award results for May 2024. This assessment shed light on the achievements and challenges across schools, emphasizing areas for improvement and opportunities for growth.

Antigua Grammar School led the pack with 11 Grade I passes and a total of 38 students sitting the exam, all of whom passed.

Princess Margaret School began with 43 entries 12 of which were incomplete, however, the school still received 7 Grade I passes.

Other schools, such as Ottos Comprehensive School, gained moderate successes. The Educators during the deliberation identified areas of deficiencies and what should be done to mitigate any reoccurrences of this deficit. The analysis highlighted the need for tailored strategies to boost students’ performances and engagements, especially in the learning institutions with lower grades.

The participants further discussed two major upcoming projects:

  1. Interschool Garden Competition 2025: Scheduled for January to March, this initiative will foster hands-on learning and competition among students.
  2. Agro Expo 2025: Set for April 8, it will showcase student projects, innovations, and promote sustainable agricultural practices.

The guest speaker, Fiona Charles Richards, Director of Family and Social Services, delivered an empowering address on integrating agriculture with community development, underlining the importance of nurturing students to become agents of change in Antigua and Barbuda’s agricultural sector.

The meeting concluded with actionable steps, including but not limited to:

  1. Enhanced review processes for lesson plans and school records.
  2. Preparations for the Agriculture Career Fair and Expo scheduled for February 27, 2025.
  3. Plans for an interschool Agricultural Science TV Program, designed to promote awareness and spark interest in agricultural careers.

This meeting underscores the Ministry of Education’s commitment to preparing students to improve their agricultural science education, and hope that this preparatory phase would equip them to become ardent stakeholders in food security regime for Antigua and Barbuda.

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