Agriculture in the second-level curriculum
Treacy asks for agriculture throughout second-level education; Hussey says agricultural science is available to senior pupils, while junior pupils are better served by general science. She agrees the subject is important but rejects O’Rourke’s view that agricultural education should receive greater emphasis.
asked the Minister for Education if she will include agriculture as a specific subject in second level colleges and schools throughout the country for the five years of second level education.
Comment on this
Agricultural science is included in the list of subjects approved for recognised senior pupils in second-level schools. It is considered that the needs of junior pupils are best met by a study of one of the science syllabuses available at that level.
Comment on this
Does the Minister consider the study of agriculture or agricultural science a very important subject in today's world, particularly in Ireland? Does she consider that the emphasis should be on agricultural education? I would like to ask her also if she is aware that the chance of the inclusion of agricultural science on the curriculum of any second level school is vastly diminished because of the pupil-teacher ratios introduced last year which have led to a great diminishment of choice options in the school.