-part of the move to promote aesthetic education
One of the major activities in the Education Ministry’s calendar, the children’s Mashramani activities, have just ended, with the support of the Allied Arts Unit, responsible for the promotion of aesthetic education.
And Head of the Unit, Mrs. Desiree Wyles-Ogle, told the Guyana Chronicle, in an invited comment, that the unit will be advancing its 2011 work programme with more emphasis on training.
According to her, this year’s children’s Mashramani activities were bigger and reflective of much work on presentation that was of a much higher quality, compared to previous years.

Wyles-Ogle stated that workshops are planned for all eleven education districts ( the 10 administrative regions and Georgetown) which would support, in particular, areas that need more work, such as physical education.
Four Chinese professionals are expected to be in Guyana by June this year to support the Unit’s physical education programme, an initiative made possible through a partnership between Guyana and China.
Additionally, the subject is being offered at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations in 17 schools.
“We have a lot planned,” the Allied Arts Unit Head said.
According to her, the unit and the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) have partnered to expand music in schools.
She stressed that there is much work to be done and many areas to be covered.
“We have come a long way. More schools are doing music, theatre arts and physical education, among other areas the unit promotes, at the CSEC level…the task we have now is to bring more schools on board,” Wyles-Ogle said.
She pointed out that currently, approximately 80 per cent of all schools are involved in aesthetic education.
“The Allied Arts subjects are timetabled and we are working to ensure that they receive the emphasis they need…the all-round development of children is what we are working to. Balance is very important,” the Allied Arts Unit Head proffered.
Some of the major features  for the rest of the year include the National Choir and steel orchestra performances in May, the Education Month activities in September, the Festival of Choirs, also in September, and the School Athletic Championships in November.
This year, the grand finale to the 2011 children’s Mashramani celebrations was a brilliant children’s road parade on Saturday, when the children made their way from Parade Ground to the National Park.