THE Allied Arts Unit of the Ministry of Education is staging the eighth Secondary Schools Drama Festival, which began yesterday and concludes today at the Theatre Guild Playhouse, Kingston, Georgetown.

The event, which is a biennial one, sees secondary school students from across the country engaging in story-telling through drama and dance, addressing various issues such as child labour, which has been highlighted recently in the media.
Schools which participated in the festival yesterday included Plaisance Secondary, Queen’s College, Ascension Secondary and West Demerara Secondary.
Making opening remarks at the festival yesterday, Education Minister Priya Manickchand said that this event is just the beginning of the ministry’s pursuit of producing well rounded individuals, who will be future leaders.
Manickchand stated that in order to prepare these students to be Guyana’s next leaders,  they should not only be taught in the traditional subject areas, but they should also be exposed to disciplines  such as drama and poetry as well as other areas which will allow them to better understand and interpret the world.
Addressing the students and teachers, she urged them to ensure that these activities are a part of the classroom experience, not only during the period of the festival but all year round.
According to her, once these activities are incorporated into the classroom, they will enhance the overall performance of students. She also applauded the efforts of those involved in making the festival possible, particularly the Allied Arts Unit.
Manickchand maintained that education is the pathway to development, since a nation cannot develop at the requisite pace if its people are not properly educated.
She stated that Guyana has made significant strides in the provision of education to its peoples, making particular reference to the country’s achievements of universal primary education, which means that every  child who is of primary age could access a primary school education.
This, she said, is a huge accomplishment and the first step towards providing Guyana’s children with a sound education, and the ministry continues to work towards the attainment of universal secondary education.
Manickchand pointed out that they have achieved this is in all of the administrative regions with the exception of Region 1 (Barima/ Waini), 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni), 8 (Potaro/Siparuni) and 9 (Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo).
According to her, one of the reasons they have not yet been able to attain universal secondary education in these regions is due to the rough terrain.
“So you might have two children in this village who are of secondary age and another three in a village 10 miles away, so no cohort is in one particular place and so we usually have to build not only schools but dormitories; and of course those are not only expensive to build but they’re very expensive to maintain,” she explained.

QUALITY OF EDUCATION
She pointed out that the quality of education delivered in schools is also something that the ministry is addressing, since while these students have access to an education, it also needs to be ensured that the quality of education is improved.
“The issue of the provision of good-quality education is not only a problem which Guyana faces, but it is a worldwide problem, and as a ministry, as well as parents, teachers, and as a people, we all need to pay attention to this,” she noted.
Meanwhile, also speaking at the opening of the festival yesterday, Administrator of the Allied Arts Unity, Ms. Desiree Whyles-Ogle said that the Education Ministry is very concerned with promoting literacy, which can be enhanced through drama.
She noted that this festival also presents the opportunity for students to display their talents and for the selection of a team to represent Guyana at the Caribbean Festival in Barbados in December.
According to her, for the first time, the Education Ministry will be selecting a group of students to participate and represent them at the upcoming National Drama Festival here in Guyana.
Ms. Whyles- Ogle pointed out that the Ministry of Labour, Human Services, and Social Security also came on board and supported this festival through their Tackle Project.
Also making remarks at the occasion was Chief Labour Officer of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services, and Social Security, Mr. Charles Ogle.