$19M in steel pans handed over to 3 secondary schools
The Three Miles Secondary School in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); the New Amsterdam Secondary School in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), and the Tutorial High School in Georgetown (Region Four) have each received a new set of steel pans to boost and enhance their music programmes.
The instruments were handed over to the schools on Wednesday at the Unit of Allied Arts, located in the Queen’s College compound. Administrator (ag) of the Unit of Allied Arts, Kurt Braithwaite, has said that each school would be receiving a pair of double second pans, a pair of double guitar pans, one set of triple cello guitar pans, one set of four bass pans, and one set of six bass pans.
He said the schools can expect a drum set to be handed over shortly to complement the pans.
Deputy Chief Education Officer (Technical), Dr. Ritesh Tularam, handing over the instruments to representatives of the schools
He said the three sets of pans for the schools were procured at a total cost of $19.6 million. According to him, the objective is to have steelpan music back in schools, and this initiative is fully supported by Education Minister Priya Manickchand.
Braithwaite noted that with the three new sets having been handed over, 34 secondary schools in the country are now equipped with steel pans. Additionally, he said some teachers across the country have been trained in the area of music which encompasses other instruments.
Deputy Chief Education Officer (Technical), Dr. Ritesh Tularam, has said the Ministry of Education is on the move to put programmes in place to produce rounded citizens. He said that with guidance of the Education Minister, the Ministry is on the path to ensure students leave the school system knowing how to play a musical instrument, a sport, are equipped with knowledge in a TVET subject, have been exposed to a foreign language, and having an appreciation and spirit for volunteerism. He said the intention is to ensure students are exposed to, and understand, the basics relative to the subject areas.
He said the Unit of Allied Arts would be repurposed and would reimagine its position to align with the National Agenda of Guyana.
r. Tularam has commended the staff of the Unit for making the instruments available to the schools. He noted that this marks the beginning of expanding the services and functions of the Unit of Allied Arts to better serve Guyana and the education system.
