THE Ministry of Education (MoE) held its National Schools Festival of Choirs on Tuesday at the National Cultural Centre and Bishops High School emerged the winner of the secondary category and Supply Primary School in the primary category.

Administrator (ag) of the Unit of Allied Arts at the MoE Lorraine Barker-King said that the ministry is very serious about the inclusion of the expressive arts (dance, drama, music, visual arts and physical educational sport), in all the schools in Guyana.
The Unit of Allied Arts was created to ensure that all children receive a balanced education, she said.

“At this unit, the head and the coordinators of the respective disciplines ensure that training is done with the teachers in all the regions. The unit conducted the National Schools Festival of Choirs up to 2009 and subsequently it became an activity of the children’s Mashramani programme. However, since the Government of Guyana has invested so much to ensure that our learners are musically literate, it was incumbent that music become an activity on its own,” Barker-King said. As such, the ministry has this year reintroduced the Festival of Choirs and it will continue to be an annual activity for primary and secondary schools across Guyana.

She explained that the objectives of this activity are to promote the learning and correct performance of national and other Guyanese songs; to enhance the development of teachers’ skills in choir-training and management; to foster an appreciation and love for national and other Guyanese songs; to provide a platform for students to display their talents; and to promote self confidence in students by including categories for solo and duet performances.

The festival saw the entry of 18 schools from Regions Two, Four, Five, Six and the Georgetown district; the schools performed in three categories: solo, duet and choir.
In the solo category only two primary schools competed and South Ruimveldt Primary won the first prize and Smith’s Memorial second. For the choir category, five primary schools competed and Novar Primary came in third, Mahaicony Primary second, and Supply Primary the winner.

Eight secondary schools competed in the choir category, with St. Roses High placing third , Berbice High School second and Bishops High the winner.
Speaking with the students who participated, they expressed how grateful they were for this opportunity to express what other talents they have apart from the academic pursuits at school. Some were happy to be part of a group activity with other children from their school.

The children were awarded prizes in trophies and gift vouchers and are looking forward to a better time next year.