^{This article was republished due to website upgrading. The article was originally posted on August 2023.)}

The Organic Agriculture Research, Development, and Extension Center (OARDEC), Agricultural Systems Institute, College of Agriculture and Food Science (ASI-CAFS) and UPLB Interdisciplinary Studies Center on Organic Agriculture (IdSC-OA) conducted a training for teachers on 14-18 August 2023 at ASI Lecture Hall, UP Los Baños.

The “Teachers’ Capability-building on Organic Agriculture (TEACH OA)” is a 5-day lecture and practical training intended for the Department of Education (DepEd) Los Baños teachers of elementary, junior, and senior high school students. The training was also attended by Assistant Professors from Life Skills Education Department of UP Rural High School. Forty-three (43) teachers from DepEd Los Baños and UP Rural High School including researchers of OARDEC attended the training.

This training was the offshoot of the “Scoping Workshop for Capability Enhancement of Teachers Towards Mainstreaming Organic Agriculture in the Basic Education Curriculum of DepEd Los Baños, Laguna” held on 7 June 2023 while the workshop was the follow-up activity of the Office of the Chancellor which was held on March 10, 2023 wherein IdSC-OA and ASI-CAFS were invited to discuss possible collaborations with DepEd Los Baños in mainstreaming organic agriculture in the K12 basic education program after the successful OA Fair event held at OARDEC.

The scoping workshop initiated partnerships between UPLB and DepEd Los Baños in integrating agriculture and organic agriculture in the K-12 curriculum. Current issues and needs in integrating these subjects in the curriculum of public schools in Los Baños, Laguna.  It was participated by 16 representatives (principals, head teachers, Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP) Coordinator) from DepEd Los Baños headed by District Supervisor Eva Marie Cambe; one (1) Assistant Professor from the Life Skills Education Department of UP Rural High School; and retired Education Provincial Supervisor Lambert Perolina.

UPLB Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr. was the guest speaker of the said workshop. Chancellor Camacho re-affirmed the full support of UPLB to DepEd Los Baños in mainstreaming agriculture and organic agriculture in the K12 basic education program. He stressed UPLB’s efforts in laying his plans in boosting agriculture and organic agriculture in the basic education program up until pursuing a career in agriculture. The participants provided their feedback and utmost gratitude towards the support received from UPLB.

On the other hand, the TEACH OA was also a successful activity of OARDEC-ASI and IdSC-OA. The training aimed to discuss the principles of organic agriculture, organic crop, animal and soil amendments production and pest management in organic farming systems. Lesson plans integrating organic agriculture in the TLE/TVL, science and Math courses and action plans for the sustainability of existing school gardens.

The training includes five (5) modules wherein the four topics are focused on Organic Agriculture while the last module discussed the integration of OA in the Basic Education Curriculum. Aside from the lectures, practical activities were conducted such as the procedure in using Soil Test Kit and identification of feeds and fodders for organic animals as well as visit at OARDEC for a tour and hands-on production of concoctions. 

On the last day of the training, a mock examination was conducted to prepare the trainees for the possible set of questions and to get a grasp on how the real assessment will feel. This activity also served as a practice and knowing the requirements and proper attitude during the assessment.

Among the participants, 31 trainees from 22 participating primary and secondary schools in Los Baños took the TESDA Assessment for Organic Agriculture Production NC II and all passed the examination with a 100% passing rate.

TEACH-OA is among the OAP’s initiatives that aim to contribute to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being); SDG 4 (Quality Education); SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities); SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production);and SDG 17 (Partnership for the Goals).

(CBManalo)

View more photos here: https://organic.uplb.edu.ph/gallery/