The Ministry of Education is participating in a project on teaching Caribbean Poetry facilitated by the University of the West Indies (UWI), in collaboration with Cambridge University, United Kingdom.
The aim of the project is to enable teachers of the English language to help students develop a greater appreciation for poetry and understand the poetry texts included in the CSEC syllabus.
A release from the ministry said that the UWI, Cave Hill School of Education, Cambridge University and the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC), have formulated a short course on ‘The Teaching of Caribbean Poetry’ for teachers of English at the secondary level and tertiary level. Fifty-five teachers have been selected from secondary schools, the Curriculum Development Unit of the ministry, Cyril Potter College of Education and the University of Guyana to take the course.
The team of ten facilitators comprises: Dr Jennifer Obidah, Director School of Education, UWI Cave Hill; Professor Morag Styles, Chair of Caribbean Poetry Project, Cambridge University; Dr Georgina Howell, Cambridge University; Professor Mark McWatt, Poet/Facilitator; John Agard, Poet; Grace Nichols, Poet; Esther Phillips, Poet/Facilitator; Sam Soyer, Facilitator; Dr Sandra Robinson, Coordinator, Caribbean Poetry project, UWI Cave Hill and Gina Burnham, Project Research Assistant.
The project will also see an Evening of Readings at the Umana Yana on Sunday at 18:00 hours, the evening preceding the workshop. Three Diaspora poets in the team will be featured–Agard, Nichols and McWatt. In addition, five students, three teachers and five local poets will participate, reading their own compositions.
The opening ceremony of the workshop will be on Monday at 9:00 hours at the Guyana International Conference Centre.
The release said that the course will re-introduce educators to a wide range of Caribbean poems. Participants will examine key issues on teaching Caribbean poetry, including choice of texts. Poets will also discuss the placement of Caribbean poetry on the CSEC syllabus and address the widespread ‘fear’ of teaching poetry.
Participants will engage in discussions, formulate strategies and activities aimed at developing their knowledge, understanding and skill in teaching of Caribbean poetry. In addition, the workshop will also attempt to make links with Caribbean poets represented on the online Poetry Archive, explore the theme of environment and sustainability within the poetry, enrich teachers’ understanding and by extension make Caribbean poetry a rewarding and exciting experience for the students.
A cultural evening in honour of the Caribbean Teachers Project 2013, entitled ‘Ganga Time,’ will also be held at the Theatre Guild next Tuesday at 18:30 hours. It will showcase aspects of Guyanese life, legends and folklore through dance, drama and music. The setting will be a river scene where older folk ‘gaff’ about stories about Guyanese culture such as Old Kaie, Massacura man, Ol’ Higue and Anansi. They will also tell about village life and the importance of the rivers to the people.
The team will also pay a courtesy call on the President next Wednesday.
