Madoc Ailak's school garden helps pupils make the most of their day
Aginang Alice is a school gardener at Madoc Ailak Primary School. The school garden not only helps to educate pupils in agriculture, but also provides a nutritious meal for children and teachers at the school. With food provided, pupils are less likely to miss school and are able to concentrate better in class, making the most of their education.
“We have a learning garden. We planted cabbages first, then carrots, tomatoes, eggplants, maize and fennel. I spray the garden with liquid manure to fertilise it. We have harvested twice: the first harvest was potatoes, beans and maize. We had a very successful harvest in December last year which meant that children ate for the whole of the first term of school in this year. The next harvest was not as successful because the weather was so dry. We were not able to feed all the children and so parents had to contribute food too.”
A learning garden benefits the school in two ways: to provide food for the pupils who will not otherwise have lunch and for who school lunch is often their first meal of the day, and to educate children in practical skills such as agriculture and farming, as well as supporting other classes such as biology and geography.
“Parents help me in the garden to weed and plant. We lack important equipment which would make gardening easier such as hoes and pags [axe like tool]. But we have used ploughs pulled by bulls.”
“We will harvest in October and then plant again in March or April. Parents often have to contribute to the food at school, and with more seeds and water it would be better, but the project is very good. Children are working harder because they are eating. They can concentrate in class for longer; they do not miss school to find food elsewhere. They are performing much better.”
“I am very proud of my job as School Gardner because I am a woman doing this job and I am very happy with the project”.