Perception of Students and Teachers on Achievement of Rural Agricultural Work Experience Programme Objectives

Abstract

The study was conducted in College of Agriculture (COA), Gandhi Krishi Vigyana Kendra, Bengaluru and College of Agriculture (COA), Vishveswaraiah Canal (V C) Farm, Mandya, in order to analyse the perception of students and teachers on Rural Agricultural Work Experience Programme (RAWEP) in 12 weeks village stay. In total 80 students and 30 teachers constituted sample size of the study. The ex-post facto research design was employed. Results revealed that 47.50 per cent of students and 46.67 per cent of teachers had a higher level of perception on the achievement of RAWEP objectives. Majority of both students and teachers have perceived that RAWEP objectives, helps the students to understand rural problems, rural institutions, and get familiar with rural life were fully achieved in 12 weeks village stay. Further, majority of both students and teachers also perceived that on-campus factors viz., orientation provided in the beginning and advance planning by teachers; off-campus factors viz., season during which village stay is conducted, teachers visits to villages, cooperation within students group and cooperation from farmers; General factors viz., students own interest in RAWEP, knowledge on subject matter and stipend provided to students were the highly influencing factors on the performance of RAWEP in 12 weeks village stay. RAWEP was helping the students to get more practical knowledge of rural life, crops and cropping season, the skills in identification of problems and providing solutions to the farmers. Therefore, proper planning, guidance, monitoring and evaluation of RAWEP work is very much necessary coupled with providing sufficient funds and a stipend to the students for achieving RAWEP objectives to a greater extent.