A total of 527 college and senior high school students from two educational institutions here are currently enrolled in the continuing eLearning program of the Agricultural Training Institute in the Caraga Region (ATI-13).

Out of the student recipients, 377 were college students from Caraga State University, and 150 were high school students from Los Angeles National High School.

“There were five courses offered to students during the series of eLearning activities in the first two weeks of September this year,” the ATI-13 said in a statement on Friday.

It added that the courses include urban gardening, cacao farming, soybean production, and banana farming. The students were given free choice on which course they wanted to take.

The courses are free and considered flexible and cost-effective since they are offered through online agricultural programs and the school-on-the-air initiative implemented by the ATI-13’s Information Services Section.

“As an agriculture student, the eLearning program has provided me with more knowledge on practical farming,” said Qyzyr Cesar, a fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Agriculture student from CSU, in an interview on Friday.

He noted that the courses focus on farm production and managing common diseases on specific crops.

“I found the school-on-the-air effective as I can immediately apply the information presented through their live broadcast platform,” Cesar added.

The eLearning program is an online platform offering courses on agriculture and fisheries to improve the knowledge and skills of farmers, extension workers, and other stakeholders, including students. (PNA)