Latest update November 29th, 2024 1:00 AM
Grassroots cricket given major boost as GCB/CWI unveils new programme Tourney set to commence October 15
By Zaheer Mohamed
Cricket at the grassroots level has been given a major boost as the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) in collaboration with Cricket West Indies (CWI) launched its 2019 Kiddy Cricket competition yesterday at the GCB office, Regent Road, Bourda.
The tournament is set to commence on October 15 and will be played on a knock-out basis in the GTU Districts. This will be followed by a playoff and county festival. The launching ceremony which was attended by officials of the GCB, Ministry of Education, National S
Officials of the GCB, MOE, CCPA, NSC and students display the manual at the launching ceremony.
ports Commission and the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA), also involved Kiddy Cricket donations to selective schools as well as the Ministry of Education’s endorsement of the CWI Academic manual to be used as supplements for the primary school curriculum textbooks.
The manual which was developed due to partnerships between CWI, UNICEF and CXC will also provide guidance to students preparing for CXC exams. Speaking at the ceremony, Treasurer of the GCB Anand Kalladeen said the competition seeks to build on the past efforts of the GCB and is geared at stimulating the interest of the game among primary school students while simultaneously helping them to develop their motor skills.
“Due to the competition, participating students from over 215 schools from across the country are likely to learn the basic rules of the game as well as the discipline and ethical considerations that go along with the sport such as sportsmanship and teamwork,” he added.
“As you may be aware, the CCPA has been involved in a number of our programmes and we are grateful
Lorraine Barker-King accepts a copy of the manual from GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie in the presence of representatives from the various stake holders.
for their efforts. We are attempting to empower the Ministry of Education with Child Care Protection related materials to equip teachers with the necessary information which can be used to help them safeguard the well being of children.”
The GCB/CWI presented 20 kiddy cricket kits to the Allied Arts Department of the Ministry of Education and Kalladeen pointed out that the kits will assist teachers in delivering the practical aspect of CXC cricket syllabus. He applauded the Ministry of Education for having cricket related materials used in the class rooms and expressed gratitude to all stakeholders involved.
Lorraine Barker-King, Administrator of the Allied Arts Unit Ministry of Education said they are happy to endorse the teaching manual. “I know it’s a good tool, we have seen the integration of the core subjects being done through the medium of cricket so the children can see the progression.
This will help the children to improve their academic performances and in the game of cricket.” She added that they are pleased with this initiative and will continue to work along with the GCB.
Child Protection is the protection of children from abuse, harm or neglect, and this area is extremely important in sport more so in kiddy cricket. Orette Francois, Senior Probation and Social Services Officer of CCPA applauded the efforts of the GCB/CWI and their partners toward their continued investment in youths especially in seeking to ensure that cricket is thought to children in a manner that is free from abuse.
“This launch comes at a time when we commemorate the week of child protection, an event that is being observed annually in over 120 countries to heighten common awareness on the understanding of the child protection and to reduce child abuse. The activities are being held here under the theme, ‘Promoting social change to stop the violation of children.’
He noted that the GCB has over the past few years made continuous strides in ensuring that their coaches complete training in child protection before they are certified as coaches. He called on other sporting fraternities to use similar methods to incorporate child protection in their programmes.
Seon Erskine of the NSC lauded the team that put together the manual, adding that it is touching every single aspect of the child’s curriculum in school. Sport plays an important role in the development of children and this type of grassroots programme is very essential for the growth of sport in our country. He added that the NSC is committed to support this initiative.
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