Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Department of Education officials signed a partnership agreement for the establishment of farm schools in Negros Occidental at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City, Tuesday, February 22.
Lacson said there is a law that requires the establishment of farm schools and they will initially start with grade seven students and gradually move up to grade 12.
The DepEd will identify the schools and the provincial government will provide technical and financial support, the governor said.
It is important to encourage more young people to stay in agriculture because the population is growing and there will be more people to feed, Lacson said.
There is a need to establish avenues of learning suited to the needs and realities of the rural agricultural communities, he said.
The signing of the memorandum of agreement “is proof of our commitment to equip our learners with the appropriate knowledge, agricultural skills , and attitudes to increase productivity, and to develop sustainable farming”, he said.
Negros Occidental Schools Division Superintendent Marsette Sabbaluca, said the partnership engagement among farm schools aims to educate the youth to love the natural resources, sustainable agricultural and fishery productivity, food sufficiency and eco-tourism.*