Workman’s Primary students reaping rewards

THE students of Workman’s Primary School are reaping the products of their aquaponics system, and also the educational benefits too.

Through interacting with the aquaponics system, donated to the school about eight months ago, students have been exposed to the benefits of aquaponics in agriculture such as saving space; no weeding; no water cans filled with water to be carried from one point to another; and no need to use fertiliser.

Speaking about the success of the project, teacher Grieg Walters, said in addition to the benefits of aquaponics in agriculture, the system has provided students with the opportunity to practise some of the process skills of science, for example, testing the PH level of the water; making conclusions based on results, observing and monitoring the growth (if plants) and making decisions on whether to give the fish more food, and the number of times to feed them.

“As educators, we are always looking for opportunities to expand the knowledge and experiences of our students. During the previous term the decision was made to expand our agriculture project utilising some recycled used tyres.

“It is our aim at Workman’s Primary School to provide students with an opportunity to explore other farming techniques, thereby utilising more process skills such as experimentation and the controlling of variables,” he said.

The teacher also highlighted the school’s aim for students to be able to compare growth patterns between the plants grown in the aquaponics system with those in the tyre garden.

He said to date a parent has donated the used tyres and the school is actively trying to obtain suitable soil and other materials for the segment of the project.

“It is our hope that we can spur the interest of our students to the extent that they select one of the many careers in agriculture as their first choice…,” Walters said.

In regards to what happens to what is grown in the aquaponics system, Walters noted that like farmers, the school has had the opportunity to reap and sell crop in-house and explained that the funds received have been used to purchase new seedlings. (AH)