An instructor of the Economic Department of the University of Liberia (UL), Zayzay F. Sillah, is craving the government’s indulgence to introduce agricultural science in high schools, which he said could empower young high school graduates to contribute to food production and the self-sustainability drive of the country.
Sillah called on the authorities of the Ministry of Education and other line ministries and agencies to include agriculture science in the high school curriculum and include the subject among WAEC-administered subjects.
Agriculture is one of the major pillars of the CDC government’s flagship development program, the “Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development”. Even though President Weah and his government are making efforts toward boosting agricultural activities in the country by empowering local farmers, paving farm-to-market roads and financially aiding market women, there are still visible gaps in making available essential crops to the citizenry.
According to Sillah, if introduced, the course could become a gateway for students who wish to study agriculture at the tertiary level, and even sustain them and facilitate their education in college.
He compared Liberia with other WASSCE-sitting countries, noting that the reason other countries take about a month to sit the exams is because they have numerous subjects that Liberian students do not learn in school. He noted that many of these subjects are important to the growth and development of the students, and the Liberian education authority should be looking in such direction.
Instructor Sillah disclosed that he has reached out to the head of WAEC in Liberia, the Principal of Joseph Jenkins Roberts United Methodist High School and the Director for Curriculum Development at the Ministry of Education, and they all have underscored the need to introduce the subject in high school.
When asked about how schools are to get teachers to teach the subject, he said there are many graduates from agriculture colleges who could be recruited and trained to teach the subject, which will serve as another means of empowering them.
Meanwhile, Sillah has offered a two-and-a-half acre of land, free of charge, as his initial contribution to the practical knowledge for agriculture students. He said the land is available to any school that will begin to teach the subject and wanting land space for showing the students the practical aspect of the course.