ON September 9, 1963 the Guyana School of Agriculture was established to meet the long felt need of a national agricultural training institution in Guyana. Twenty-five male students comprised the first batch. The Ministry of Agriculture supplied the teaching staff on a part-time basis until May 1965 when the first full-time Principal was appointed.
Over the past decades of the school’s existence the demand for persons trained in agriculture has been most significant, but much more need to be done here in Region 2. Hence, thousands of graduates found themselves contributing to agricultural development and related areas in Guyana and overseas.
In 1964 the school became a corporation and out of its aims and objectives, evolved a Mission Statement. GSA’s mission is”, to promote and support agricultural development through education and training of young men and women interested in an agricultural career”. The aims and objectives were to train persons in the theory and practice of agriculture and to manage, develop and to operate farms and other undertakings of agricultural nature.
To provide part of the training offered by the school and operate commercial farms and undertakings in accordance with good farming practice.
However, the Anna Regina Branch needs to do that too. GSA in the main offers residential two- year courses in a diploma and a certificate in agriculture. In 1994, the school in collaboration with the Guyana Forestry Commission began a one-year residential course leading to a certificate in forestry. The certificate course is of a two -year duration has a strong practical bias and is intended for youths with a full primary education and those who have attained the age of 17. It is designed to equip young people for successful farming careers.