THE Lochaber Primary School at West Canje, Berbice, hosted a grand day of 

culture on Friday last when the dress, food, art and craft of five of the six ethnic groups in Guyana were showcased.
The event drew participation from parents, guardians and the wider community who were invited to make purchases and view a cultural show in the auditorium. It was pointed out that the Amerindians were not in focus since the entire month of September is dedicated to them.
Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle, Assistant Mistress attached to the school, Ms. Beverly La Rose, said this is the first year that the Grade ‘E’ institution has embarked on such an activity and the plan is to make it an annual feature.
“We at the Lochaber Primary School thought it best to execute a programme of this
nature, so as to sensitise our students about the cultural practices of the various ethnic groups while, at the same time, encourage parents to be a part of the learning process, so
they can be better able to disseminate information to the public,” she explained.
Apart from the physical involvement of the children who were attired in colourful outfits, there were ‘question and answer’ sessions to test the aptitude of each child.

ETHNIC DIVERSITY
“It is not basically about the food, attire and stage show, our intention is to ensure that
our pupils grasp the full concept of ethnic diversity,” she added.
President of the Parent Teachers Association (PTA), Mr. Khemraj Singh, told this newspaper that the programme is another stepping stone towards higher learning and it is
his hope that the community will embrace the concept and render their support in the future.
“We, as a PTA, stand firm behind the administration of this school and we are particularly pleased about this venture; it will only serve to unite our Guyanese brothers and sisters,” he posited.
Singh said, further, that his grouping will work assiduously to ensure that events of this
magnitude are held consistently to create a bondage among students.
“Our support is unwavering and we can only hope that such activities serve our student population well, as we strive to improve the learning potential of the pupils here at Lochaber Primary,” he asserted.
Lochaber Primary School is located two miles from New Amsterdam and has a student population of 80 (65 in the primary section and 15 in the nursery).
Written By Michael Khan