Agriculture is kept as a standalone subject at year 11

ACT’s agriculture spokesperson says agriculture will be kept as a standalone year 11 subject.

Feilding High School principal Nathan Stewart says subjects such as economics and business studies are now merged into one at year 11. “There were three core subjects or compulsory subjects that students at year 11 were going to have to do, English, maths and science,” he says.

He says students have sent so many stories and photos about agriculture to the school’s Facebook page that the school is running out of days to share them.

ACT agriculture spokesperson Andrew Hoggard says public consultation on the new subject is due in the coming weeks.

“I encourage farmers, teachers, principals and industry bodies to have their say so it delivers real, practical knowledge of the sector.”

In a letter to Education Minister Erica Stanford in September, Hoggard says schools including Feilding High School have built strong agriculture programmes.

“It matters most of all for urban students. They do not get to learn about farming by osmosis, the way I did.”

Stanford says in her reply last month that agricultural and horticultural science will continue as a standalone subject at years 12 and 13.

“Agriculture is a cornerstone of New Zealand’s economy and way of life, and it is important that students can see the wide range of opportunities available within the sector.”

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