The study, conducted among 800 primary school teachers of groups 5 through 8, shows that school gardening is included in the educational program at only a quarter of primary schools in the country. Forty-five percent of primary schools have a school garden, but less than twenty percent of these gardens are currently being used. This is partly because teachers have insufficient knowledge or too little time.
The added value of school gardening
More than two in five teachers say they would definitely take up school gardening if the facility were available. Almost half would also consider gardening with their class in that case. Many teachers recognize the added value of growing vegetables. As reasons for working in a school garden, they say it is important for pupils to be actively engaged outdoors and to take care of and assume responsibility for their own little garden. Teachers who are not enthusiastic about gardening mainly feel that they have too little time for it.
Teachers who currently use a school garden do so on average more than 15 times a year. One third of them would like to use the vegetable garden more often, whether in the schoolyard or at a school garden complex. However, many teachers need more support with gardening, both when it comes to maintenance and to guiding pupils during lessons.
School Gardens Alliance
To make a school garden just as commonplace in education as a gym, IVN Natuureducatie, Vereniging Gemeenten voor Duurzame Ontwikkeling (Vereniging GDO), consultancy firm Beleef & Weet, and entrepreneurs Rob Baan (Koppert Cress) and Simon Groot (East West Seed) have joined forces. From September 8, these parties will form the School Gardens Alliance. Together, over the next four years they want to put school gardening on the map and support education through a nationwide knowledge network, connecting existing initiatives, and encouraging and facilitating new school gardens.