At Festival of Choirs…

Golden Grove Secondary students perform a folk song.

ACTING Administrator of the Allied Arts unit in the Ministry of Education, Ms. Lorraine Barker-King has emphasised the need for more prominence to be placed on the inclusion of music in the schools curriculum.

She spoke at the Schools Festival of Choirs, Secondary Level, last Friday, after repeat performances of the late Michael Jackson’s ‘Heal the World’.

Annandale Secondary School students perform

It was testimony to the impact of one man’s own and the fact that music is important amidst calls for it to be recognised as quintessential continued and Barker-King reiterated the call.

Addressing the gathering of schoolchildren, teachers and Education Ministry officials, she pointed out that music is significant and an important contributor to the development of a student.

Berbice High School students perform with its male lead singers.

“Music is not a frill,” she asserted.

Barker-King said the significance of music and arts in the schools curriculum is being demonstrated by the Ministry through the Schools Festival Choirs.

The biannual event was initiated in 2006 by Acting Chief Education Officer, Ms. Genevieve Whyte-Nedd and she and other Education Ministry officials, including Minister within the Ministry, Dr Desrey Fox, were present at the festival opening on Thursday, when primary schools performed.

Secondary schools took part yesterday but all, from different regions countrywide, rendered a national song, a folk song and one of their choices, came from several regions across Guyana.

Primary schools

The primary schools that participated were Wales and Kawall in Region Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands); Company Road and St. Andrew’s in Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica); Hopetown and Number 29 in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice); All Saints and Rose Hall Estate in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne); Mackenzie and Regma in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice) and St. Margaret’s, West Ruimveldt, North Georgetown and Winfer Gardens in Georgetown.

Of the lot, Hopetown Primary was adjudged the best.

Taking the stage yesterday were secondary schools from Aurora in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam); Golden Grove and Annandale from Region Four; Fort Wellington and Mahaicony from Region Five; Berbice High and New Amsterdam from Region Six; Linden Foundation and New Silver City from Region 10 and St. Rose’s, New Campbellville, Lodge Community High and Bishops’ High from Georgetown.

The winner amongst them was Bishops’.

Barker-King explained that the participation of the latter group is an indication that some focus is being put on music and arts in schools.

Additionally, music was lauded, as an expressive art that bridges many divides in addition to assisting with the development of an individual, by chairperson of yesterday’s proceedings and Headmistress of Queen’s College, Mrs. Gem Rohlehr-Vogt.

School heads and managers like herself were charged by Minister Fox last Thursday to facilitate singing and music as a regular part of the school programme.

She announced that efforts will be made by the Ministry to establish a National Schools Choir and Steel Orchestra by 2010.