TO commemorate Guyana’s 49th Independence Anniversary celebrations, the Ministry of Education will be staging a gymnastic presentation entitled “National Schools Physical Display Championships” on Thursday and Friday, June 4-5, 2015 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

According to a press release, the event is slated to commence at 10:00 hrs and will include competitions in five categories: Jump Rope and Skip-Be Fit and Pyramids, along with a few combinations for secondary schools.
Approximately five hundred children from primary and secondary schools from across Guyana are expected to participate.
The objectives of this exercise are to expand the scope of Physical Education in schools; promote good sportsmanship among students and teachers; display the talents of children of primary and secondary schools from all Regions; and celebrate the 49th Independence Anniversary of Guyana through the Expressive Arts.
There has been a growing interest in the skipping aspect of the programme by schools. The coordinating team this year from the Unit of Allied Arts has led the Ministry of Education to include a new competition titled “Skip Be Fit” for the secondary schools. This new competition is sponsored in part by Banks DIH under the Coca Cola brand. Trophies and prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third place winners in the various categories by the Ministry.
The National Schools Physical Display Championships began as a part of the Children’s Mashramani Events in 1992. The competitions involved a display of acrobatic movements put together for its aesthetic expression.
Over the years, schools displayed a growing interest in this aspect of the programme, making it difficult to manage during the busy Mashramani Events. Thus, in 2005, it was separated from the Children’s Mashramani programme and made an individual National Event to be held during Independence, the release concluded.