Business
Agricultural Pilot Program at Frederick Smith Secondary School Engages At-Risk Boys
A seven-week agricultural pilot at Frederick Smith Secondary School has successfully engaged 15 at-risk boys, enhancing their attendance and practical skills through hydroponic farming and entrepreneurial activities.
4 min read
Originally published by barbadostoday.bb (opens in new tab)
A seven-week, agriculture-based pilot at the Frederick Smith Secondary School has re-engaged 15 at-risk boys, showing measurable gains in attendance, teamwork and practical skills while generating saleable products from hydroponic farming, officials said.
The project ended on Monday with a closing ceremony for the “Learning Cooperative: Securing Futures, Saving Lives” initiative at the Trents, St James school.
The learning cooperative, co-organised with the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill, engaged students in practical agricultural and entrepreneurial activities, showing how combining academic theory with revenue-generating farming can improve engagement, develop leadership and strengthen socio-emotional skills.
The initiative went beyond traditional farming by integrating literacy, numeracy and innovation into a model for curriculum delivery. Working on the school grounds, participants built soilless grow boxes, cultivated spinach and herbs, and operated a hydroponic system.
The produce was turned into value-added items, including fresh pesto and homemade mint ice cream, which attendees sampled at the ceremony.
Dr Michele Singh, Director of the UWI Centre for Agricultural Research and Innovation (CAGRI), praised the students’ dedication.
“When we first looked at this project, we saw a distinct opportunity to change the narrative around education. We live in a world where the landscape is changing fast, and far too often, traditional classrooms can leave bright, hands-on minds behind. But we knew that if we connected academic theory with the practical, revenue-driven reality of modern agriculture, we could create something truly transformative. That is exactly what we did here by establishing the FSSS Learning Cooperative.”
She pointed to the joint effort of the UWI School of Education, the school administration and the Barbados Trust Fund Limited, which donated the hydroponic system.
“By transforming agricultural decisions into tangible revenue and community well-being, these students have proven that agriculture is a viable, respectable, and highly profitable venture.”
The initiative was designed as an intervention for 15 boys who were losing their connection to the classroom. Using food production as a tool for personal development, the programme addressed conflict resolution, self-regulation and teamwork.
