"Gulayan sa Paaralan": A Basis for a Sustainable Development Program

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

A school-based community food production project, the "Gulayan sa Paaralan," is a tie-up between the educational sector and the "Programang Agricultura Para sa Masa" of the Department of Agriculture (DA), which will be implemented at the national, regional, division, provincial and city levels. The initiative seeks to raise public consciousness on the health and nutritional dimension as well as the economic benefit of establishing a school, household, and community gardens. The school gardens shall serve as a food basket or primary source of commodities to sustain supplementary feeding.

METHODS

This study used the descriptive-normative study to find out the actual condition of the existing program. Informal interviews were conducted to supplement the data and information that were gathered through the questionnaire. The respondents involved are the ninety (90) EPP -Agriculture teachers in the elementary level and TLE teachers in the secondary level and was done using purposive sampling procedure.

RESULTS

The study revealed that the majority of the respondents are female. However, most of them are 46 years old and above, with master's units, ranked as Teacher 1, and have been teaching for 16 to 20 years. They assessed that the objectives of the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program was attained and the activities were implemented. No significant difference was noted by the teacher-respondents in their TLE and the teacher-respondents in their EPP. Scientific farming practices are often used and agreed on with the identified suggestions to improve the implementation, acquisition of an additional site for planting and conducting in-service training for teachers assigned in the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program.

DISCUSSIONS

Factors that contributed to the "attained" level of the attainment of the objectives of the Gulayan sa Paaralan should be analyzed. Develop an improvement plan to attain a high level of attainment of the objective. Conduct further studies to develop liquid organic fertilizer t be used in the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program may be necessary. TLE and EPP teachers should coordinate with the local government such as the municipality or the barangay officials to look for an additional site for school farming. TLE and EPP teachers should coordinate with the stakeholders of the school for the full implementation of the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program. Conduct a further study to identify the involvement of the different stakeholders of the school in the full implementation of the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program.