NORTHERN Mindanao agricultural department supported the Department of Education (DepEd) in providing mental health and psychosocial support services for Cagayan de Oro students ahead of the opening of classes on Aug. 24.
Deped through their "My Pet Plant Project", more public schools in the city has even obtained vegetable seeds since July 27 from the regional field office of the Department of Agriculture-10 (DA-10).
The project is in order to further strengthen the role of teachers and enrich the students' mental and social adequacy amid the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 health threat.
A total of 1,800 packets of assorted vegetable seeds were given to 4 schools in the city, according to DA.
The recepient schools were Gusa Regional Science High School (GRSHS); Gusa National High School (GNHS); Bugo Central School (BCS) and Puerto Elementary School (PES).
The DepEd-Division of CDO will conduct mental health and psychosocial support activities to promote school learners, parents and personnel's well-being.
It said that through their "My Pet Plant Project", the students will learn how to grow and appreciate the nature of plants while documenting from planting of the seeds up to its harvest.
According to GRSHS Teacher Shoji-an D. Daradal, all stages in the plants' growth will relate to the subjects being taught to the students.Meantime, BCS Teacher Elsa Ylanan said, the students will be provided with seeds along with answer sheets, for them to record their observations in the nature of growing vegetables in their respective homes.
Moreover, GNHS Administrative Staff Pio Jaime A. Amigo conveyed, such school activity will uplift the morale and provide psychosocial support for the students and the parents amid the ongoing health crisis.
Overall, more than 5,000 students from these schools are targeted to benefit from the free veggie seeds of DA. (Recthie Paculba/DA10)
