Table 2 Key elements for successfully engaging young people on CSRA

Malalag National High School

Agricultural community where rice and vegetables are grown; generally rainfed

Supportive key school officials; teacher trained was given agri-related teaching load; has an estimated 3500 square meter (m²) rice garden beside the school

Has an agriculture-related degree; industrious; good networking skills; facilitative; shows high interest in the subject matter; reputable

Infomediary corner; engaged five other schools on his own by giving them seeds and all learning materials collected during the training; rice garden managed by the students; school bought pocket wi-fi so students can surf PinoyRice; active student-texters to the PhilRice Text Center (PTC)

ICT infrastructure in the area is poor, which limits the students from accessing online materials; frequent reshuffling of key school officials (and sometimes teachers)

Cateel National Agricultural High School

Agricultural community with mostly hilly areas; rice is generally planted in the lowland areas; timber production is practiced

Support from key school officials is variable; internet connectivity is a challenge; teacher trained was given agri-related teaching load; has a 3-hectare ricefield and 1000 m² is being used for rice garden; receptive parent-teacher association members; school is 10 km from the the commercial center

Very intelligent (topped post-test twice during the training of teachers); highly innovative; has an agriculture-related degree; facilitative; industrious

Infomediary corner; loaning scheme for publications; rice garden maintained by the students

Frequent reshuffling of key school officials (and sometimes teachers)

Libon Agro-Industrial High School

Agricultural community where rice and other crops are grown; generally irrigated

Supportive key school officials and colleagues; teacher trained was given agri-related teaching load

Very intelligent (one of the topnotchers in the post-test during the training of teachers); coordination skills are high; facilitative; good working relationship with colleagues; has an agriculture-related degree; industrious

Field day participated in by private companies, farmers, and local government officials; rice garden outside the school managed by the students; recognized active infomediary students during the school’s recognition day; time alloted for students to register for the PTC

Rice garden is quite far from the school, which might discourage students from frequently visiting it; frequent reshuffling of key school officials (and sometimes teachers)