Education Ministry brings literature to life for students

The Education Ministry hosted secondary school students at the National Cultural Centre as GEM’s Theatre Productions brought to life Anansi, the legendary trickster of Caribbean folklore, in a blend of humour, wit and valuable life lessons that captivated both students and educators alike.

The first day’s performances saw eager students from secondary schools across Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) and Georgetown filling the National Cultural Centre to capacity, and rocking the venue with laughter, gasps and applause as the mischievous Anansi weaved his way through a series of adventures, outsmarting larger and more powerful foes with his quick thinking and clever tricks.
Anansi, the cunning spider, is a central figure in Caribbean and West African folklore. His stories, which originated in Ghana and were brought to the Caribbean by enslaved Africans, have been told for generations as a means of entertainment, education and moral guidance. These tales celebrate intelligence over strength, and teach valuable lessons about resourcefulness, resilience, and the consequences of one’s actions.
Now part of the English Literature syllabus of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC®) examinations, it is an essential literary work that students are required to study.
The Ministry of Education’s decision to stage this production is a bold and innovative move to help students engage with the text beyond the pages of a book.
By seeing Anansi’s adventures unfold on stage, students gain a deeper understanding of the narrative, themes, and cultural significance of these timeless tales.
Educator Mrs Ingrid Richards-Fung has said the Education Ministry has long recognised the power of theatre in education. She said Literature is often seen as challenging or intimidating for students, but live productions like this one allow them to experience the story in a dynamic and relatable way.
She also said this approach has already yielded positive results. In 2024, a similar initiative contributed to an increase in the English Literature pass rate at CSEC.
Mrs Richards-Fung has thus commended Education Minister Priya Manickchand for the initiative.
In a release on Wednesday, the Education Ministry said Minister Manickchand envisions bringing literature education to life for students preparing for their examinations, with the goal of sparking greater interest in the subject and helping more students excel.
Secondary school students from across the country would continue to have the chance to experience the play firsthand today and tomorrow.
In order to ensure even wider access, the release has said, the Education Ministry has arranged for the production to be recorded and uploaded to its social media platforms, thereby allowing students, educators and the public to view the performance.