Latest update January 18th, 2025 7:00 AM
$8.3M music education programme launched
An $8.3M workshop aimed at developing music education in primary schools was launched on Monday and, with its conclusion, the lives of countless students in Guyana are expected to be greatly enriched.
A section of the participants in the workshop.
The four-week workshop was launched by the Ministry of Education and will see approximately 160 teachers from all across Guyana benefiting from intensive training.
A simple opening ceremony was held at the Theatre Guild and saw high-ranking officials such as Minister of Education Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine and Chief Education Officer Olato Sam attending.
During his brief remarks, CEO Sam stated that the programme was an expansion of one of the Ministry’s critical components.
According to Sam, children perform better when the arts are applied to their studies. He said too that teachers are some of the most creative persons in society and are therefore the best tools to impart such an important element of a child’s development.
Similarly, Minister Roopnaraine emphasised that the role of music education could not be understated. He stressed that children should not be deprived of music education.
He explained that the purpose of the workshop was not to simply teach educators how to teach music but to teach them how to enrich their students’ lives.
“We need to concentrate on really enriching the experiences of our students,” Roopnaraine stressed. He continued, “For me, exposing them to music very early on is one of the most well-known, well tried, well tested and successful ways of doing this.”
He added that with the introduction of a solid music education programme, the Ministry’s capacities would be strengthened for maximum performance.
Additionally, the Education Minister said that music education would allow for more well-rounded students in Guyana who will in turn add value to society.
“When I see children doing 20 subjects at an examination, I wonder to myself what kind of school life they must have. I want to see less of that,” Roopnaraine said. He said too that the programme would move schools from simply being academic institutions to ones that are wholly comprehensive.
When it came to the educators, Roopnaraine said that they too would be able to benefit from the programme. Deeming educators as “primary movers of development”, he opined that teachers needed to be empowered, whether it was by financial support or simply having their concerns addressed. He emphasised that this empowerment was paramount.
“Your task is central to the development of the country; without you and your efforts, your enthusiasm, your dedication, I fear for all of us,” he said.
The workshop is being facilitated by Paul Cort, a musician and Assistant Chief Examiner for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) in Music.
According to a Ministry official, the participating teachers were drawn from all of Guyana’s administrative regions. For far-flung regions, representatives are being sent. These representatives will head back to their regions and train educators in music, the official said.
During the four weeks, the primary school teachers are expected to undergo approximately 60 hours of training. According to the Ministry, the workshop will be the first in a series of training sessions designed to build capacity and to equip teachers with the necessary skills to effectively deliver a music programme in primary schools.
The main objectives will be to train and maintain a cadre of primary school teachers in music education, resuscitate and support singing in primary schools, and enrich the education process through the introduction of experience in the field of music.
CEO Sam also indicated that the majority of the teachers trained during the workshop will become dedicated music teachers in their respective schools.
The workshop is expected to particularly benefit students from disadvantaged groups such as those who are poor or who are from far-flung areas.
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