Agriculture enlivens primary schools

A number of primary schools in HCM City have designed a “farm corner” to their campuses.

"Farming corner" in southern village of Le Dinh Chinh Primary School in District 11.

Besides green spaces, schools have been adding livestock areas, with animals such as pigs, chickens, goats, rabbits and birds. These are being nurtured next to school gardens.

Tan Son Nhi Primary School, in Tan Phu District, is a primary example. Herds of different types of cattle fowl are being cared for here.

The chicken area is especially boisterous. Next to it, there is a small area for 3 black pigs, 2 white geese and a little dove house. Other areas, for turtles, rabbits, birds, porcupines and other animals are also being completed.

The headmaster of the school, Dinh Bang, told a funny story when he fist brought a goat to the schoolyard:

“My students kept wondering if it was a buffalo or a buffalo calf. They were all surprised when I told them it was a goat!”

Dinh Bang said that this tiny "farm" was built at the beginning of this school-year.

“From now on students will have a chance for hands-on study of the natural sciences."

In addition, the zoological garden, the school has also set up miniature models a rice paddies, mountains terraces, lakes and plains.

There will also be agricultural instruction included into the curriculum.

Le Dinh Chinh Primary School in District 11 set up a model of a typical rural southern village in a small area of the schoolyard. Traditional tools, such as those for fishermen - tackle, nets, etc., have been set up along a bamboo path. Small bamboo forests have been replicated on the other. It has been made to look like the Vietnamese countryside.

Nguyen Thi Kim Huong, Headmaster of the school said that they are teaching students to grow vegetables and medicinal herbs.

“Furthermore, we also provide special lessons on the work of the fishermen and farmers right on the site,” she noted.

The students seem to be happy with the "farming corners" at their schools.

Huynh My Nhu, a 1st grade student said that she and her mother could not tell correctly it was the buffalo on the schoolyard until her teacher told her.

Meanwhile Nguyen Trung Kien at grade 3, Tan Son Nhi Primary School had found it much easier to do his literature exercise which requires students to describe an animal. “I described the goat in my school,” he says.

According to Le Ngoc Diep, head of the HCM City Department of Education and Training\'s primary education office, the idea of developing a farm corner in the primary schoolyard was proposed last year and by now it has been carried out in many schools.

“This will not only help students in their study but also teach them to love the nature and create a friendly atmosphere at school,” he said.