Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Skew Curricular Priority of ASU

In the afternoon of Thursday, April 8, Aklan State University, Banga campus held its Commencement Exercises at Amphitheater, Banga. Some 677 students graduated including those 40 in the High School laboratory.

Scrutinizing the graduates, the College of Agriculture Forestry and Environmental Science (CAFES) graduated 99 as follows: two with a masteral degree; 16 BS in (Animal Science); 2 (two) BS in (Agricultural Economics); five (5) BSA (Agricultural Extension); seven (7) BSA (Crop Science); three (3) BSA (Soil Science); one (1) BSA (Agricultural Engineering); one (1) BS in Agricultural Technology.

Some 44 graduated with degree in Home Technology (nutrition) and 13 major in Home Technology. Two finished Diploma in Home Technology.

Comparing the number of graduates with that of the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS), it is quite small. SAS graduated 284 broken down as follows: Bachelor of Science in Nursing – 131; Associate in Health Science Education – 141. The College of Veterinary medicine graduated 19 Doctors of Veterinary Medicine.

In the School of Management Science, 30 completed Master of Public Administration, 45 Bachelor in Office Information Management; and 87 Associate in Office Information Management.

The College of Teacher Education produced two (2) Doctors of Philosophy; seven (7) Master of Arts in Education, and 62 Bachelor of Secondary Education.

Looking at the number of graduates, the School of Arts and Science has the biggest number of outputs. The production is almost 39 percent of the whole ASU main campus. The "Flagship" CAFES has only produced 99 graduates or less than 10 percent of the total graduates.

If the enrollment in agricultural courses has diminished, what could be the reasons of its dwindling popularity? Is it cause by the values of agriculture among the Aklanons? Is Agriculture the least glamorous among the parents who advise their children to give agriculture the least of their priority? Are the children convinced that agriculture courses just simply do not suit them?

On the other hand, do the alumni of agricultural courses of various disciplines not serve as inspiration to them that the youth today simply evade their footsteps? Is ASU in a position to provide ample motivation to enroll in courses of agriculture?

The ASU management needs to discover the reasons why enrollment in CAFES is continuously diminishing. This is a huge challenge to ASU Board of Regents management, faculty and staff.

It must be remembered that since 1916 when Capiz Farm School was founded, transformed to Banga Rural High School, Aklan Agricultural College, Aklan State College of Agriculture, and finally to ASU, the major priority was and still is agriculture; agriculture to develop farming and fishing in Aklan into a most progressive and lucrative industry.

But ASU appears to be aloof from the Aklanon people. For the last 10 years of ASU existence, no Aklanon was appointed member of the Board of Regents. Under the ASU charter, two Aklanons are mandated to be members of the Board of Regents who will articulate the aspirations of the Aklanons in the ASU policy making body. But the Commission on Higher Education has until today, not implemented that provision in the ASU charter.

Aklan has twin provincial program: Agriculture and Tourism. I have yet to see alumni of the ASU who are leading in farming and fishing. Where are they? Our seed growers and traders today are not graduates of agriculture.

The ASU Board of Regents and management must review its policies and curriculum offerings so that they can respond effectively to the needs, aspirations, and problems of Aklan province and its people. After this is done, the skew curricular priority may have been corrected. /MP