THE Ministry of Education, through the Unit of Allied Arts, handed over steelpans to the Mackenzie High School and the Kwakwani Secondary School on Tuesday.

Handing over the new musical instruments to the schools were Dr Nicolette Henry, Minister of Education, and Lorraine Barker-King, administrator of the Unit of Allied Arts.

Minister Henry said that the Ministry of Education, through the Unit of Allied Arts, sought to enhance the arts, in a bid to promote holistic learning to develop well- rounded individuals.
She said the Government of Guyana was adamant in its quest to ensure educational opportunities encompassed all aspects of development. Guyana had begun its Decade of Development and Dr Henry said teachers and students will continue to see significant investment in the education sector.

The minister said it was important that students from all geographical locations were exposed to equal educational opportunities.

She added that the distribution of steelpans to schools was an activity that was being done in all education districts because the ministry recognised that there were disparities in the education sector. “We are correcting that. We are minimising the disparity, reducing the gap,” Minister Henry noted.

The students at both schools were told by the minister that education was not just about academics but also doing things which made them happy. On that note, she urged the students to show respect and love for others. Music, she said was the food of love and that was what the steelpans would contribute.

According to Barker-King, the Ministry of Education was a strong advocate of the arts. She said that was evident in the ministry having a unit that promoted the expressive arts. The aim, she said was to expand the scope of music in Guyana and to give students the requisite knowledge in steelpan playing.

She also assured the schools that music was a front burner matter at the Ministry of Education. Barker-King noted that, recently, the ministry started training teachers in music and currently 23 teachers have written the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) examinations.

She said this was done to ensure teachers were qualified to teach the subject. According to Barker-King, the Ministry of Education was preparing to have rounded children and the Unit of Allied Arts was looking to enhance and promote dance, drama, visual arts, physical education and sport.

Regional Education Officer, Region 10, Rabindra Singh said music was an integral part of any school’s curriculum and encouraged the teachers to ensure the instruments were fully utilised by the students.

Headteachers of Mackenzie High School, Haslyn Small and Kwakwani Secondary School, Pamela Adrian thanked the Ministry of Education and the Unit of Allied Arts for the instruments and committed to using them for the benefit of the students.