An analysis of selected aspects of the agricultural education program in Guyana with implications for program development
No Thumbnail Available
Date
1977
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This study sought to analyse selected aspects of the agricultural education programme in Guyana and to make recommendations for programme development. Questionnaires were used to collect data from 68 teachers of agriculture and 563 students enrolled in agriculture programmes, and interviews were held with selected administrators, government officials, and teacher educators in Guyana. Results of the data analysis showed that: 1) the majority of teachers of agricultural education were trained in primary education and, as a result, most of them worked in primary schools; 2) generally, agricultural education was compulsory for all students in all forms; 3) teachers had varying programme objectives and most programmes were very limited in scope; 4) the agricultural education programme was confronted with several serious problems, including shortage of teachers, lack of finances, and the availability of instructional media and equipment; 5) teachers felt that their training in technical agricultural skills was good, but that their training in instructional methods was poor; 6) students had positive opinions about farming and also toward the agricultural science programme, but were reluctant to consider farming as a career; 7) significant differences, by sex and ethnicity, were found in students' interest in farming as a career; and 9) it was the general feeling of students that agricultural education should be compulsory for males and females. It was concluded that the agricultural education programme in Guyana needed to expand its scope and take into consideration the vocational aspects of agricultural education