Free agri courses eyed in state schools
By Delmar Carino
Northern Luzon Bureau
First Posted 16:53:00 11/20/2008
Filed Under: Agriculture, Education
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Philippines—Bothered by declining enrollment in agriculture courses, the country's state universities and colleges are now looking at several options to make agriculture attractive to students, among them no tuition.
Dr. William Medrano, Commission on Higher Education commissioner, said the country might suffer from a "human capital deficit" in agriculture if the decrease in enrollment isn’t stopped.
"We have no problem on brain drain. The market for agriculture graduates is in fact very encouraging. But if the enrollment trend would continue, we might fall short of human capital," he said.
Medrano spoke during the November 18-19 North Luzon showcase of state school innovations and best practices forum held at the Agriculture Training Institute at the Benguet State University here.
The forum, which drew officials and researchers from 16 state universities and colleges in Northern Luzon, served as a venue for sharing innovative practices among state schools in the fields of research, administration, extension, resource management and instruction.
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