Reformulating Agriculture and Forestry Education in the Philippines: Issues and Concerns

Issue Date

1-2013

Abstract

More than ever before the reformulation of agriculture and forestry education in the Philippines has become increasingly essential in the light of a rapidly diminishing industry sector, shifting uses of land and other natural resources and the changing climate and the environment in general. As its foundational context changes the educational system and programs on agriculture and forestry must also change to be able to produce trained human resources with the skills and orientation consistent with what is required to address the prevailing and emerging problems and opportunities associated with the changing biophysical and socioeconomic landscape. The slow pace of adaptation of agriculture and forestry education has caused the decline of interests among prospective students as the demand for graduates of the traditional programs declines in favor of the rising demand for graduates with new sets of skills. Further, the diminishing opportunities to get employment and start new agriculture and forestry enterprises also erode the attractiveness of professional and business career in agriculture and forestry.
  Needless to say agriculture and forestry education remain vital considering the unabated population growth and increase in the demand for food, fiber, wood and other related goods. But to remain responsive and relevant, agriculture and forestry education must rise up to the challenge of transforming it into a system where the end products are graduates with the desired set of skills and knowledge that are necessary to make a positive difference in the industry sector and the overall improvement of the state of the biophysical and socioeconomic environment.
  Toward this end the Philippines through the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) aims to redesign the highly performance based educational system for agriculture and forestry into a largely outcomes based system. This paper presents the key elements of the envisioned reformulated agriculture and forestry education program along with the concerns, problems, opportunities and constraining and facilitating factors for its full and prompt adoption.

Source or Periodical Title

Journal of Developments in Sustainable Agriculture

ISSN

1880-3024

Volume

8

Issue

1

Page

49-62

Document Type

Article

College

College of Forestry and Natural Resources (CFNR)

Language

English

Subject

Forestry, Agriculture, Outcomes-based education

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