The “Horizons” Dual Education Program of the “My Step” Charitable Foundation is expanding its borders in Syunik Province. After succeeding in 9 schools of Sisian and Goris (the secondary schools in Angeghakot, Brnakot, Shaghat, Shamb, Lor and Shaki, the high school in Sisian and High Schools #1 and #4 in Goris), the “My Step” Foundation has decided to introduce the Program in six more schools, including the secondary schools in Gorayk, Verishen, Akner, Hartashen, Khndzoresk and Kornidzor.
To present the essence, specifics and aim of the Program, Deputy Director of the “My Step” Charitable Foundation for Programs and External Relations Talin Topalakian and Director of the “Horizons” Dual Education Program Rima Grigoryan paid a three-day visit to Syunik Province where, with the accompaniment of Deputy Director of the Sisian branch of the Armenian National Agrarian University Meri Yolyan, they met with the principals, teachers and pupils of all 6 schools.
The representatives of the “My Step” Foundation thoroughly presented the Program and the successes of the previous two stages. The “Horizons” Dual Education Program provides 10th, 11th and 12th graders with the opportunity to get acquainted with modern agriculture, find out the principle under which intensive gardens or smart farms are built and maintained, how the latest technologies are applied in agriculture (i.e. humidity in greenhouse, remote regulation of the frequency of watering, etc.).
The Foundation’s representatives clarified the hours of instruction for the “Agrotechnology” classes and explained whom the classes are designed for and the syllabus for the group leaders to use during instruction. The Foundation’s representatives answered questions from the schools’ principals and teachers and informed that the Foundation plans to hold subject-specific training courses for biology teachers in late July and a summer camp for learners in August. During the teaching of every component of the Program, learners gain necessary knowledge, acquire abilities and skills that are characteristic of the sector. During the agrobusiness module, pupils also acquire skills in writing a business plan, and the pupils with successful business plans can also apply for different grants in order to turn their ideas into reality.
The schools’ representatives promised to do everything possible to make sure the Program is implemented smoothly. The teachers have to present the Program to the pupils in higher grades by late August in order to form the final list of participants.
Launched in 2022 in Armavir and Aragatsotn Provinces, the “Horizons” Dual Education Program has sparked great interest among pupils in the past two years. Back then, the Program was carried out as an experimental program in the winemaking and viticulture sectors. Last year, the Program was carried out in Syunik Province where the participants learned about agriculture in two components — management of plant cultivation and livestock farming and processing of primary agricultural products, as well as launch of the latest technologies. This subject serves as a group learning program.
