The Minister of Education yesterday presented the Mahdia Secondary School with steel pans during the opening ceremony of the national levels for the Children’s Mash competitions.
“This is the year of transformation, restoration, socioeconomic evolution so there is much to celebrate,” were the words of the Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry, during her feature address at the opening ceremony for the Children’s Mashramani Competitions: National Level.
The competition is being held at the National Cultural Centre where students who participated in the Regional competitions successfully, have earned a place in the national level of the competition. During yesterday’s ceremony, students were briefed on the history of how Guyana became a Republic and its journey since then as it relates to Children’s Mash and Mashramani in general, through a presentation entitled “Shadows of the Past, Present, and the Future,” written by Mark Luke Edwards. The presentation was composed of dances by the National School of Dance Company and accompanied with a narrative of Mashramani’s history to educate persons of the country’s progress.
After the presentation, the Minister, during her address, commended students for using their talent to reflect what being a republic means to the nation and for their regional victory. Additionally she explained what Republic means to the Nation and noted that the Children’s Mash competitions did not start until the year 1992.
The Minister also made mention of the theme for this year’s Republic Anniversary and declared that it holds great significance as it related to how far the country has come. “The theme ‘Guyana together: Reflect, Celebrate and Transform’, underscores the importance of all Guyanese unity as one people in pursuit of a prosperous destiny in this great nation. The ultimate need for us to reflect and acknowledge the struggles and sacrifices of our ancestors. This reflection of course, should build our determination by enhancing our national state of identity…Through transformation we as a nation will take Guyana to the next level. To ensure we have innovative solutions we are relying on our education which is important.”
The competitions are expected to start today and will run until tomorrow, February 14th.
