THE curriculum of the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) is this year set for complete review with the objective of making it more relevant to governmental policies.Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, addressing the 156 graduands and GSA staffers at the school’s 52nd graduation ceremony, indicated that greater emphasis would be placed on practical aspects of the programmes being offered by GSA, and efforts would be made to expose students to the practice of agriculture in the various eco-zones.

“This will ensure that, after training, students can be placed in any region and would be able to function effectively without much further training, since they would have had prior exposure in those regions,” Holder highlighted.

The GSA is expected in the near future to undergo a number of organisational changes, among which the Minister outlined are curriculum reform, systematic review of the school’s organisational structure, development of a strategic plan, and a policy on agriculture education that would serve both the nation and the institution by focusing material and other resources on achieving the desired goals.

The graduands having completed the Diploma in Agriculture, Diploma in Animal Health and Veterinary Public health, Certificate in Agriculture, Certificate in Forestry and Certificate in Agro-Processing programmes, Minister Holder told them of the importance of job creation, and invited them to consider self-employment in the agriculture sector; hence making agriculture a source of sustainable employment.

“Agriculture must be viewed as a profitable business rather than purely for subsistence. Embracing this concept is the key to revitalising agriculture in Guyana,” he said. “Some of you will be entering the labour force for the first time, but I want to charge you to be entrepreneurs. Take the knowledge and the skills learnt here and apply them to your own businesses; the Ministry of Agriculture and its agencies are here to support you,” he admonished.

The youth unemployment rate across the Caribbean averages 25 per cent, while here in Guyana this rate has been hovering close to 40 per cent. Thus the agriculture sector can be turned to for aid in tackling this problem, he posited.

But for the industry to attain sustainability, it must address the aging farming population by promoting greater involvement of youths in agriculture, he cautioned.

The GSA, Holder said, will consult with employers and employment agencies to determine their expectations, in order to increase the probability of graduates gaining employment. Further, through the creation of a programme of internship at appropriate collaborating partner institutions or businesses, the GSA is considering giving assistance to graduates who have difficulty securing employment.

Students who are recipients of Government’s scholarships will be afforded the opportunity to develop their skills and work ethics through placement at appropriate Government institutions.

Meanwhile, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Representative Reuben Robertson, who said he was pleased to see the ratio of males to females in the sector increasing,
urged the graduands to “stay focused, disciplined, and work towards achieving (your) goals.”

He advised them that real success depends on them; and he urged them to always remain optimistic.