The socio-economic importance of agriculture to the Caribbean region has been established and is clearly stated in the rationale for the Agricultural Science double Award syllabus, that is, there is a very direct relationship between agricultural education and the development of the economies in Caribbean territories.  The case normally made for the promotion of agricultural education is stronger.  In recent times, there has been an increasing concern about the nutritional requirements of the population of the region which has found expression in a renewed interest in self sufficiency in food production to reduce the present critical dependency on imported food.

It follows, therefore, that agricultural education should be made available to a larger group of the secondary school population and private candidates that now obtains.  This is desirable for improving the present attitudes onwards agriculture, promoting agriculture as a business and encouraging school leavers to enter fields related to agricultural endeavours.  This will make a contribution to the development and stabilisation of national economies and promote food security in the region.

The study of Agricultural Science at the secondary level should begin with a compulsory exposure to the subject in the first three years of secondary education.  This syllabus, which represents the subject as a valid component of a well-balanced general education curriculum, builds on such an introductory programme and is designed to provide:

• The basis for post secondary education and training in the subject;
• Some knowledge and skills which will allow the school leaver to practice in a mixed-farming setting.

The student should:

• Recognise the importance of agriculture in the maintenance and development of Caribbean economies;
• Perceive agriculture as a business
• Perceive the subject as an applied science with a strong practical base and therefore a subject worthy of study at the secondary level.

The syllabus is organised in two sections, viz, the Core and the Options.  A candidate presented for the examination must take all five units in the Core and one of the two Options.

Core

• Unit 1: Local and Regional Agriculture
• Unit 2: Agricultural Economics
• Unit 3: Agricultural Mechanisation
• Unit 4: Introduction to Crops and Soils
• Unit 5: Introduction to Animal Science

Options

• Option A: Crops and Soils
• Option B: Animal Science