Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB) and Agri Aware are delighted to bring its new ‘Intro to Ag’ short course for Transition Year (TY) students nationwide this coming September. Following its successful pilot in Laois and Offaly ETB schools this year, the ‘Intro to Ag’ programme will be available for all TY students to register and engage with in September 2025, offering an exciting opportunity to inspire the next generation of agricultural innovators. The programme will kick off with a live webinar open to all teachers, providing a dedicated space to explore the programme’s content, ask questions and gain insights into how it can enhance student learning.
The ‘Intro to Ag’ programme was created to address the gap in agricultural education at Junior Cycle level. While students have the opportunity to explore subjects they can continue at Senior Cycle – such as languages and science, practical subjects like woodwork and metalwork – agricultural science remains an exception. From the beginning of secondary school until 5th year, students do not have the option to study agricultural science. As a result, they encounter the subject at Senior Cycle, and only if they choose it as an optional subject to study.
‘Intro to Ag’ aims to capture TY students that are being lost as they don’t have an opportunity to see what the agriculture science subject entails and the importance of having that basic understanding of agriculture and food production. ‘Intro to Ag’ short course is being rolled out to give students a flavour for what it would be like to study agriculture science for the Leaving Certificate. It is the hope to increase the take-up of students studying the subject at Leaving Certificate and pursuing a career in the sector.
Gráinne McGrath, LOETB and Michael Geary, Agri Aware
