Australian Students’ And Teachers’ Knowledge Of Primary Industries
A survey of 900 Australian 6th and 10th graders, as well as 53 teachers, revealed that Australian youth have a lack of knowledge about the Primary Industry (agriculture). The survey found a lack of knowledge about the origin of many basic food products. Among other findings, a quarter (27%) of year six students and 13% of year ten students thought yogurt was a plant product and 80% of year six students believe that farming does not damage the environment. Knowledge was generally more accurate among students in year ten than year six.
Select Findings (from Study’s press release):
-
- 75% of year 6 students thought cotton socks are an animal product.
- 27% of year students thought yoghurt is a plant product.
- 21% of year 6 students think sugar is a man made product
- 37% of year 6 students and 29% of year 10 students believe cooking oil to be a man-made (artificial) product.
- Only 55% of students identified that bread, cheese and bananas all originate from farmed products.
- Only 27% of students identified Salmon as a farmed product.
- Only 57% of students linked scientific research to farming
- Only 45% of students linked innovation to farming.
- Teacher knowledge is weakest in relation to fisheries, 26% of teachers said they were unfamiliar with any issues related to the fishing sector.
Despite this:
- 100% of year primary teachers and 91% of secondary teachers rate students learning about primary industries as very important or somewhat important.
A news article covering the survey is available here.