Former Waterford teacher aims to get horticulture onto Leaving Cert curriculum

A Waterford local is hoping to get 'Organic Horticulture' added to the leaving certificate curriculum, saying that it is “a valuable life skill” for young people.

A former secondary school teacher and recent Green Party candidate in the local elections, Maolíosa Ní Chléirigh says she has written a letter to the Minister for Education, Norma Foley asking her to make organic horticulture a leaving certificate subject that would award 50% of the marks for practical work, a similar approach to how the Music curriculum is structured at leaving cert level.

Ms Ní Chléirigh has also started an online petition to garner support.

Explaining the inspiration behind the goal, she comments: “Doing this would ensure that students can develop and maintain a school garden and orchard under the expertise of a properly qualified teacher, thereby enhancing their school environment and providing freshly produced organic food for their school's canteen, whilst also earning points in their Leaving Certificate. 

"It would be a win-win situation: good for students, good for schools and good for the planet.” 

She adds that a practical hands-on course would give students the opportunity to engage in healthy outdoor, experiential learning, a style which she says suits a cohort of students, who may find it hard to sit in a classroom all day.

“Quite a number of our students learn best by doing," she explains. “I believe a practical subject like this would bring out the best in them and really add to our already varied school curriculum.”

“In my letter to Minister Norma Foley, I put it to her that this could be her lasting legacy - inspiring a generation of young people to grow their own organic produce and contributing to real benefits for biodiversity and the environment.” 

The online petition can be viewed at: https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/teach-kids-to-grow-food-make-organic-horticulture-a-leaving-certificate-subject