The Ministry of Education yesterday handed over steelpans to the Port Mourant Secondary School and the Skeldon High School in Region Six.
Handing over the items to the schools’ headteachers was Minister of Education, Dr Nicolette Henry. According to a release from the Ministry of Education, she said that the Decade of Development is starting on a good note in Region Six.
The government has been promoting a decade of development even though it is presently just a caretaker administration facing general elections on March 2.
The administrator of the Unit of Allied Arts, Lorraine Barker-King said that 31 steel bands have been presented to primary and secondary schools across Guyana, the release stated.She added that the Ministry has observed that there has been a significant change in the behaviour of learners who took up steelpan playing.
Headteacher at the Port Mourant Secondary School, Mark Lyte, who is also the President of the Guyana Teachers Union, said that in 2017 his school officially introduced music as part of the curriculum. He said that the subject is currently being offered to the Grades seven and eight students.
According to Lyte, his school’s intention is to offer the subject at the CSEC level once given the right support. Headteacher of the Skeldon High School, Royden Harvey echoed similar sentiments of gratitude since the steelpans will be used for the learners at his school to benefit.
