St Vincent Grammar School to add Agriculture Science to its curriculum

The St. Vincent Grammar School will be offering Agriculture Science to its students as part of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate’s (CSEC) curriculum in the 2023/24 academic year.

This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) this week between the Zero Hunger Trust Fund and the school.

The MOU was signed on Monday, June 26, by Headmaster of the St. Vincent Grammar School, Hugh Colin Sam, and director/chief executive officer of the Zero Hunger Trust Fund Safiya Horne-Bique.

Sam said there have been discussions for some time now about offering the subject at the school and he welcomed the implementation phase.

He expressed gratitude to the Zero Hunger Trust Fund for embracing the idea, adding that agriculture science will have a permanent space on the school’s curriculum.

The Headmaster also noted that more than 100 students had selected agriculture science as their subject for the new academic year. “The interest is there, the human resource is there and the funding is there,” Sam said.

Meanwhile, Horne-Bique said the Zero Hunger Trust Fund is pleased to inaugurate the Agriculture Science programme for the St. Vincent Grammar School (SVGS). She said the occasion is significant as it symbolizes the re-engaging of students of the school in one of the most important sectors of the economy.  Bique- Horne said it is also significant in that it points to a trajectory for innovation, expansion and the sustainability of the sector which puts the nation on a path to zero hunger.

She expressed gratitude to the St. Vincent Brewery which is supporting the initiative through its Vita Malt brand.

The Zero Hunger Trust Fund director said, given the government’s commitment and goal to achieve food security and food sovereignty, youth participation in agriculture is crucial.

Since 2019, the Zero Hunger Trust Fund, in meeting this mandate, has supported Agriculture Science programmes at secondary schools, and Horne-Bique said the intention is to provide students with opportunities to enhance their knowledge of sustainable agriculture policies, practices, techniques, and methodologies, and to explore avenues for sustainable livelihoods in agriculture.

Minister of Agriculture Saboto Caesar also spoke at the signing ceremony on Monday. He said he was happy that the St. Vincent Grammar school saw it fit to bring together a platform for students to participate in the agriculture industry. He  also pledged his Ministry’s commitment to make the programme a success.

Caesar said the initiative prepares students to contribute to the agriculture industry at a time when the SVG tourism product is expanding through the construction and opening of new hotels.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education, Myccle Burke. (API)