THE Unit of Allied Arts within the Ministry of Education held its annual ‘Amity’ Schools’ Steel band Presentation on Sunday, October 6, 2019, at the Botanical Gardens. It was indeed a great success.
The participating schools this year were Berbice High School, The Bishop’s High School, St. Rose’s High School, President’s College, GBTI Buxton Pride Steel Orchestra, Dolphin Secondary School, Mahaicony Secondary School and The West Demerara Secondary School.

The event also saw a new addition, with a guitar rendition from three primary schools; North Georgetown Primary School, St. Pius Primary School and South Ruimveldt Primary School.

According to the Administrator of the Unit of Allied Arts, Ms. Lorraine Barker-King, the activity was a culmination of the events of one of the best Education Months observed and celebrated by the Ministry of Education.

Ms. Barker-King added that, the Ministry is a strong advocate of arts education at all levels of schools in Guyana; hence thirty one steel bands were distributed to schools from regions one to ten and Georgetown.

Chief Education Officer, Dr. Marcel Hutson, who also attended the event, thanked the trainers who worked with the students. He stated that music was being pushed heavily in schools by the Ministry of Education in order to develop rounded students.

Dr. Hutson added that the introduction of the guitar in schools is evidence of advancements being made in the education sector where music was concerned.

The Ministry of Education introduced the ‘Amity’ activity as an annual feature of the Education Month calendar; it is designed to create a platform for students to exhibit their skills in the art form of steelpan. It endeavours to promote a great atmosphere of friendship, love, unity, and peace among all Guyanese.