Organic farming : an investigation on the awareness and knowledge of Maltese secondary home economics students and teachers

Abstract

Organic farming methods have been introduced in Malta in recent years. However, the concept is still somewhat new to the Maltese public. The Home Economics syllabus in our secondary schools deals with organic farming in Form 4 only. Apart from research on the subject by means of a syllabus and text book audit, the study was furthered by conducting questionnaires with 200 Form 4 students attending secondary schools from North, South, Central Malta and Gozo. These schools are from different educational sectors, those Independent, Church and Government schools. Data was also collected from thirteen structured interviews with Home Economics teachers of the student who participated in the questionnaire. The main purpose of this research study is to analyse the awareness and perceptions of Home Economics students and teachers on Organic farming methods and organic food. This subject of study was also done in order to explore the environmental and health benefits of this farming method. The findings show that knowledge about organic farming is still very vague in schools. Although the school was the main source of information for the students, it was not very effective, as the students did not remember the information accurately for a long time. It is hoped that the teaching resources produced will assist in delivering the right messages with correct content.