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Horticulture

Food growing set to be added to UK curriculum - what about Ireland?

Should it also be brought into Irish schools?

HORTICULTURE LOOKS SET to be added to the UK’s National curriculum, it has been announced.

According to Garden Organic, the national charity for organic growing, the National Curriculum framework document, which is due to be published in August 2013 and taught in schools in the UK from September 2014,  outlines how horticulture and food growing could be introduced.

It aims to ensure that pupils have opportunities to learn to cook, and that they should be taught practical knowledge, skills and crafts in fields such as horticulture. Horticulture will be introduced as part of the design and technology curriculum.

Myles Bremner, Chief Executive of Garden Organic, said:

This will give pupils an opportunity to grow their own fruit and vegetables, which is a vital part of their wider food education and brings so many other benefits in terms of health, wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviours.

A number of organisations were asked to take part in a Food Growing in Schools Taskforce in 2011, which was backed by the UK government. They published a report in 2012 about the benefits of children being given the opportunity to grow their own food.

Should food growing be added to the Irish national curriculum?


Poll Results:

No (639)
Yes (459)
I'm not sure (69)

Read: Coveney announces €3.25 million grant for horticulture sector>

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