Parbat, May 19

Amrit Prasad Rijal from Mudikuwa in Parbat district is currently working in the maize zone of Phalebas municipality. He completed his intermediate level in 2016 from Matedeval Janasahayogi Higher Secondary School where he also studied about agriculture technology. After receiving technical education on agriculture he is now working in Phalebas maize zone as an agriculture assistant.

“I am very happy that I didn’t have to leave my village for a job. After receiving practical education on agriculture I have been able to work on technical issues related to agriculture,” Rijal said. As per Rijal, he now helps local farmers to deal with any issues related to farming.

At present, he is involved with teaching farmers to use new technologies and to improve their farming methods. Rijal further added he is currently associated with eight other friends from his batch as agriculture assistants in various government agricultural departments.

Meanwhile, Aliza Sapkota from Rupdi, Phalebas municipality, has a dream of establishing her own agriculture farm and generating employment in her village. “A lot of people have gone abroad for employment, however, looking at some of my seniors from school — Matedeval Janasahayogi Higher Secondary School — who have become agriculture assistants I too decided to take up agriculture technical education and stay back,” she stated.

Sapkota is currently preparing for her SEE level examination and also helps with ploughing the field on the premises of her school. According to Sapkota, ploughing, planting, watering, using agriculture machinery come under the practical education of ScienceAG (agriculture) subject.

“Initially, I might have to take up a job but as soon as I am able to manage some funds I will establish my own farm,” she said. “I also want to provide employment to other people in my village.”

According to Sapkota, unlike what most people often think, ScienceAG is not actually an easy subject. The technical education on agriculture is currently being provided to students from class nine to 12.

Matedeval Janasahayogi Higher Secondary School started providing education on agriculture since 2014. Till date, two batches of students have completed the 12th standard on agriculture education from the school. “We decided to include agriculture studies in our curriculum as per the demand of locals and now both locals and students are happy with our initiative,” said Ram Prasad Rijal, principal of the school.

Currently, a total of 82 students from class nine to 12 are taking agriculture education as their technical subject. The course for students in class nine and 10 is similar to the training that a junior technical assistant (JTA) receives and the course for students of class 11 and 12 is similar to that of a junior technician (JT).

And students who have already started working are earning what a JT and JTA does.

According to Principal Rijal, students of class nine and 10 have to study agriculture along with optional mathematics as their practical subjects while students of intermediate level have to study agriculture along with chemistry, biology and optional mathematics.

“We have a library, practical field and laboratory for ScienceAG subject in our school,” he said, adding, “Along with locals we are also getting support from Phalebas maize zone as well as the agriculture department of the village.”

Students who have graduated from the school are currently working at Agriculture Knowledge Centre, agriculture department and regional offices.