There are 53 10th-11th-graders of High School #1 in Goris participating in the “Horizons” Dual Education Program initiated by the “My Step” Charitable Foundation. The School’s biology teacher Sona Harutyunyan had told the pupils about the Program 9 months ago, and now both groups have successfully completed the first Academic Year of the “Agro-technology” course of the “Horizons” Dual Education Program.
“The “Horizons” Program motivates the children to work with soil and pets. All the pupils attend the lessons with great pleasure. Besides theoretical lessons, we have visited various greenhouses, factories and farms. We have also held practical lessons at the Smart Farming Center of the Sisian branch of the Armenian National Agrarian University (ANAU) where the children have sown herbs and plants with their own hands. This dual education program is extremely important, and if things continue at this pace, the children will achieve great heights,” Sona Harutyunyan, head of the club at High School #1 in Goris, said.
Davit, one of the pupils, has never imagined himself as a farmer, but has decided to put his strengths to the test in this sector as well. He said the “Agro-technology” course provided him with a lot of knowledge and gladly sets aside the theoretical and practical lessons.
“If we compare the theoretical and practical lessons, it is a greater pleasure to participate in the practical lessons, but we wouldn’t have been able to succeed in the practical lessons without the theoretical lessons. I plan to work in another profession, but of course, I will need the knowledge about farming since I might use it someday, or if not for me, I will use it to give advice to others,” Davit Harutyunyan, 11th grader of High School #1 in Goris, remarked.
Maneh has been working with soil since childhood since her family’s garden is a conventional one. During the lessons, she has been able to feel the difference between conventional farming and smart farming. After the launch of the “Agro-technology” course, many people have approached and asked about the Program in school; everyone is very interested in the Program.
“The new technologies in farming provide farmers with more opportunities, and this is delightful and commendable. I am certain that these innovative technologies will help us have better harvest and see the development of agriculture soon. I gained experience during the lessons on growing crops and have used it in our garden. By using the theoretical knowledge that we gain, we become skillful in this work, and I believe that upon completion of the Program, we will be able to continue to do this in addition to our main profession. In my opinion, this Program has to be expanded to all parts of the country,” Maneh Martirosyan, 11th grader of High School #1 in Goris, remarked.
The “My Step” Charitable Foundation has the intention to expand the Program. Soon the “Horizons” Dual Education Program will be expanded and reach new schools, as well as new settlements in which people are specifically involved in farming. Currently, in Syunik Province this Program is accessible in 9 schools of the enlarged Sisian and Goris communities (the high schools in Angeghakot, Brnakot, Shaghat, Shamb, Lor, Shaki and Sisian, as well as High Schools #1 and #4 in Goris). The “Agro-technology” course is held based on two components, including management of plant breeding and livestock, processing of primary agricultural products and launch of the latest technologies.
