EDUCATION Minister Shaik Baksh  has said his Ministry remains committed to promoting aesthetic education in schools in a bid to produce more rounded individuals in the school system.
He made the pronouncement at the opening, earlier this week, of the National Schools’ Physical Education Championship held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.
Aesthetic education includes cultural activities, drama, music and dance and the Minister pointed out that these disciplines play a vital role in building students’ self-esteem, self-confidence, self-discipline and improving their social and emotional development and academic performance.
Baksh noted that Physical Education is being offered as a subject at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations in 17 schools and efforts are being made to significantly increase this number in the next three years.
The National Physical Display Competition began as part of the Children’s Mashramani events in 1992 and featured display of gymnastic and dance movements put together to form an aesthetic expression.
The championship has grown from strength to strength during the first part of this decade, with a growing interest in the schools display aspect of the Mashramani Programme.
This development had made it difficult for the Unit of Allied Arts to manage the programme during the busy Mashramani Season.
As a result of the ever increasing interest, it was separated from the Children’s Mashramani events in 2005 and made an individual national event to be held during Independence.
The annual event seeks to provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate their talent; acquire knowledge, skills and values in dance and gymnastics; build their capacity for creativity, discipline and team work; develop good sportsmanship among schools; and expand the scope for Physical Education in schools.
Administrator of the Allied Arts Unit, Mrs. Desiree Wyles-Ogle lauded the efforts of the Ministry of Education to promote Physical Education in schools and welcomed the colourful and enthusiastic participants from various schools.
The championship this year saw several lively and energetic performances from primary and secondary school students in Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Ten and Georgetown.