2010 Annual Report: Education - PartnershipsInAction

y e a r i n r e v i e w : e d u c a t i o n
The school's curriculum is in dire need of updating. The basic-level vocational
education currently leaves graduates unprepared and unmotivated to work in
agriculture. Many pursue other careers, and those who fail resort to outmoded
agricultural techniques that lead to poor yields and high vulnerability to floods,
droughts, insect plagues and animal attacks. Inexperienced school
management causes further complications that EAB must address. The
greatest concern, however, continues to be the curriculum’s incongruity with
the development priorities of the province.
SOLUTION: Upgrading the Agrarian School of Bilibiza in Mozambique
In February 2009, the Ford Foundation awarded a grant for AKF to provide
training, technical assistance and scholarship funds to transform the Agrarian
School of Bilibiza into an educational institution of excellence. As the only
agricultural institute in Cabo Delgado, EAB has the potential to play a key
role in the development of the region. AKF has helped introduce a more
advanced curriculum in the school, which will complement educational
changes being made by the government. Teachers have been trained to
conduct entrepreneurship courses alongside teaching agricultural techniques.
This provides students with the tools to think critically and analytically about
the best methods of growing and marketing their crops. In addition, 100
students from poor families received scholarships to attend the school.
As the program advances, all graduates of EAB will leave with knowledge of
modern farming techniques as well as entrepreneurial skills. Those welltrained
students will then, in turn, contribute to their community by running
profitable and successful agricultural businesses. The project plans to improve
school facilities and help increase EAB’s self-sustainability. Plans for a goat
breeding program, an aviary and additional farms are already underway,
which will generate critical income for the school’s upkeep and maintenance.
With an upgraded curriculum, the Agrarian
School of Bilibiza – the only agricultural
school in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique – has
potential to play a key role in development
in the region.