Higher Vocational Agricultural School of Bevalala

Higher Vocational Agricultural School of Bevalala
Address
Bevalala, Antananarivo Madagascar
Information
Type	Jesuit, Catholic
Denomination	All faiths
Grades	BAC+3
Gender	Coeducational
Enrollment	50/year
Campus	Rural
Tuition	1993 (1993)
Earlier name	Rural Learning Centre
Sister institution	School of Building and Public Works
Website	EPSA in English

Higher Vocational Agricultural School of Bevalala – Ecole Professionnelle Supérieure Agricole (EPSA) – in Bevalala, Madagascar, was in 1957 a Jesuit outreach to assist farmers and craftsmen with marginal income to increase their income. It has grown to offer a 3-year bachelor's degree.

History

Rural Learning Centre (RAC) began as an outreach to help poor farmers to increase their yield, as a program of 20-30 days at an internship farm, and for craftsmen to improve their production technology. After Fr. Alain Delaitre took charge in 1957 the effort evolved to include livestock farming, "FIFA". With an increasing number of clientele seeking training, and the demand for more breadth in the educational effort, the center now offers 10 different courses. In 1985 a masonry school was added (Building Technical School, ETB), and the name of the institute was changed to PSC Bevalala. In 1995 ETB was officially recognized by the government ministry.^[1] Jesuit higher education in agronomy, begun in 1993 as a 2-year, National Higher Diploma farm (BAC +2), received approval from the government ministry in 1998.^[2]

From 2003, when the Jesuit Assistancy of Africa and Madagascar^[3] determined to found a technical university incorporating PSC and the EPSA, the effort was extended with the encouragement of the government to areas not yet covered, like milk, meat, SRI, and organic farming. in 2006 with the government's adoption of the LMD system in higher education,^[4] the EPSA BAC+2 formula became BAC+3.

Since 2003, the Building Technical School has also been accredited^[5] in courses like masonry, reinforced concrete, sanitation engineering, woodwork, and metal work. During the 2011-2012 school year ETB became a college, the School of Building and Public Works (ESBTP) of Bevalala, approved by the Ministry of Technical Education and Vocational Training.^[6] It now offers a Senior Technicians Diploma (SDRs) for BACC+2, and Professional Degree in Building and Construction (LPBTP) for BACC+3.

Objectives

The Bevalala farm will be used to graduate young people with both theoretical training and practical knowledge. Graduates should be able to manage a farm, with a specialization in breeding or plant production.^[7] They will be technicians who can act as extension workers, facilitators, trainers, supervisors for peasant farmers, and technical production managers, while also possessing some veterinary skill for breeding farms.^[8]

Admission

Fixty students are admitted each year on the basis of academic tests and a practicum. The academic subjects tested are math, physics, chemistry, life and earth sciences, psychotechnique, and French. The practicum lasts a week and involves daily work at the Bevalala farm to ascertain physical and mental aptitude.^[9]

Academics

The six-semester program consists of four semesters of common core and two of specialization. One can specialize in plant or livestock production, with some crossover topics. To classroom studies are added personal research, study trips, and "specialized advanced technician training" devoted to research studies.^[10]

References

Coordinates: 18°58′5.98″S 47°31′17.89″E / 18.9683278°S 47.5216361°E / -18.9683278; 47.5216361