Impact of school gardens on secondary schools' agricultural science education in east Berbice Corentyne, Guyana
1 Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Faculty of Education and Humanities, University of Guyana, Guyana.
2 Faculty of Research and Graduate Studies, UNICAF University, Malawi.
Research Article
Magna Scientia Advanced Research and Reviews, 2024, 11(02), 250–260
Publication history:
Received on 12 June 2024; revised on 30 July 2024; accepted on 01 August 2024
Abstract:
This study aimed to investigate gender disparities among Agricultural Science teachers in Region 6, East Berbice Corentyne, Guyana, focusing on their perceptions of school gardens and their influence on the pedagogy of agricultural science in secondary schools. Data were collected via electronic questionnaires from 30 teachers across 17 secondary schools to examine the integration of school gardens and their impact on teaching agricultural science.
The results revealed that students participating in school gardening activities showed a greater propensity towards considering agriculture as a potential career and demonstrated an enhanced understanding of its practical aspects. Furthermore, incorporating school gardens facilitated interdisciplinary learning, bridging agricultural science with subjects such as social studies, language arts, and mathematics. This interdisciplinary approach promoted a deeper understanding of real-world applications across various disciplines.
The findings emphasised the significance of creating conducive learning environments to support effective agricultural science instruction. Providing teachers and students with comfortable teaching and learning spaces fosters engagement and enhances pedagogical efficacy. This study contributes to the expanding body of literature advocating for integrating school gardens into educational curricula, particularly in agricultural science instruction. By recognising the multifaceted benefits of school gardens, educators and policymakers can better support the development of holistic and engaging learning experiences for secondary school students.
Keywords:
Agricultural education; Career Inclination; Gender disparities; Interdisciplinary Learning; Pedagogical Impact; School Gardens
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Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0