Terminal report, 30 June 1973 : California Polytechnic State University USAID contract team AID/FE-308 for the improvement of vocational agriculture education, IBRD loan project

TWO ELEMENTS OF THE PROJECT -- -THE IRRIGATION SYSTEMS FOR THE SCHOOLS AND THE CORRECTION OF FARM SHOP INSTALLATIONS -- -WERE NOT UNDERTAKEN DUE TO LACK OF USAID AND THAI FUNDS. HOWEVER, IRRIGATION PLANS WERE FORMULATED FOR EACH OF THE 10 PROJECT SCHOOLS AND ARE BEING HELD BY THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION FOR FUTURE IMPLEMENTATION. THE FARM PLAN CONCEPT WAS INTRODUCED TO EACH SCHOOL IN 1967 AND 1968. CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN USING THE PROGRAM SO THAT EACH CROP IS PLANNED TO FILL A SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONAL NEED AND AT THE SAME TIME BE ECONOMICALLY SUPPORTIVE. CONSIDERABLE MISUNDERSTANDING STILL EXISTS AS TO THE REAL FUNCTION, OR PURPOSE OF THE SCHOOL FARM. THE CAL POLY TEAM BELIEVES THAT MOST OF THE VOCATIONAL AGRICULTURE SCHOOLS HAVE MORE LAND THAN IS NEEDED FOR AN INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM. THE TEAM RECOMMENDS THAT EXCESS LAND BE LEASED TO YOUNG FARMERS IN THE COMMUNITY, WITH THE SCHOOL RETAINING SOME MANAGERIAL CONTROL AND PROVIDING A MINIMUM OF INSTRUCTION. IN THIS WAY, THE LAND WOULD SERVE AS A PRACTICAL LABORATORY FOR STUDENT OBSERVATION, PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INCOME TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE SCHOOL, AND GIVE THE SCHOOL THE APPEARANCE OF A PRODUCTIVE FARM AREA. MANY THOUSANDS OF SIMPLE, USABLE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AND DISTRIBUTED TO 27 SCHOOLS. REPORT RECOMMENDS THAT THE BANGPRA AGRICULTURE COLLEGE SERVE AS THE CENTER FOR CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THESE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS. ALSO, BANPRA SHOULD SERVE AS THE PROFESSIONAL HUB FOR THE VOCATIONAL AGRICULTURE SCHOOL SYSTEM, PROVIDING FACILITIES AND STAFF FOR TEACHER TRAINING WORKSHOPS. THE FARM MECHANICS PROGRAM IN THE SCHOOLS IS NOT KEEPING PACE WITH THE FARM MECHANIZATION OF THAILAND. ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND MORE FUNDS ARE NEEDED FOR THE CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF FARM MACHINERY.