The purpose of this study was to develop a monitoring system that can monitor agriculture, fishery and food-related contents of textbooks used in primary and secondary schools. For this purpose, this study reviewed the national curriculum and process of developing and revising primary and secondary school textbooks, including related policies and regulations. Various education and public relations activities of agro-food related institutions and agencies, such as the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MIFAFF) and Rural Development agency (RDA), are analyzed to find out to what extent agriculture, fishery and food-related contents are reflected in the textbooks. This study also investigated comparable cases with respect to other industries and analyzed the contents of primary school textbooks (3rd and 4th grade) to see what and how the contents are covered and whether there are any errors to be corrected.
The results of this study suggest to build a monitoring system which is operated by MIFAFF, a monitoring agency, and teachers' study groups with an active and positive perspective toward agriculture, fishery and food industries. The study finds that the suggested monitoring system should be managed on a permanent and stable base and keep track of school curriculums, textbooks and educational materials and programs of schools and other forms of public media. Under the monitoring system, MIFAFF should establish a basic direction for various education and promotion activities and supervise such activities by agriculture, fishery and food industry-related institutions and agencies. Meanwhile, the monitoring agency should play the following roles: reinforce current education and promotional activities; operate teachers' study groups; benchmark against the best practices of foreign countries and non-agricultural sectors; conduct basic research for education and promotion of agriculture, fishery and food industries on a regular basis; assist the publication of textbooks and develop various educational materials; support teachers training; discover and share the best practices in various education settings; conduct public surveys regularly to find out about the public's understanding of agriculture and agro-foods; construct an educational database; and monitor primary and secondary school curriculums. Teachers' study group should monitor textbooks and on-the-field activities of teaching at schools, report problems to the monitoring agency, and conduct research on new agriculture-related educational projects.
Researchers: Choi Kyeong-Hwan, Ma Sang-Jin and Yoon Byeong-Seok
Research period: 2009. 12. - 2010. 6.
E-mail address: kyeong@krei.re.kr msj@krei.re.kr dd329@krei.re.kr