Sing a song every morning in school!

Feb 24, 2026 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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(Kaieteur News) – Yesterday, when news came of the passing of Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, my mind did not first turn to party politics, nor to the familiar battles of our public life. Instead, I remembered a moment in the National Assembly during the 2016 Budget debate.

Speaking then as Minister of Education, Dr. Roopnaraine made a proposal that seemed simple, almost fragile, in the midst of weighty fiscal matters. He proposed that we train school choirs throughout Guyana. He said something that has stayed with me ever since. Every child, he reminded us, already possesses a musical “instrument … called the voice.” That instrument requires no import licence, no foreign exchange, no expensive procurement. It is given freely. And he envisioned that this instrument could be used to form choirs in schools across the country. He imagined children singing each morning, from the coastland to the hinterland, their voices rising together at the start of the school day.

This was not an isolated idea. It was part of a broader push during his tenure to restore sports and music to the centre of school life and to provide what he called a more holistic education. He believed that education was not merely about passing examinations or mastering textbooks. It was about shaping whole human beings — mind, body and spirit. It was during his time as Minister that a four-week music workshop for primary school teachers was held. The aim was practical and clear: to train teachers in music and to resuscitate singing in primary schools. He wanted music, including singing, to be reintroduced at the start of the school day. He believed it would enrich the learning experience and help create a more joyful and disciplined atmosphere in our schools.

Some may have dismissed the idea as charming but secondary. In a developing country with many urgent needs, why focus on choirs? Why focus on music? Yet that question misses the deeper point. Music, especially choral singing, does something powerful. When children sing together, they must listen to one another. They must blend. They must control their breathing. They must follow a leader. They must discipline themselves. In that simple act of singing in harmony, they learn cooperation, patience and respect. A choir is a lesson in unity.

At the nursery level, music is even more important. Young children learn language, rhythm and memory through song. A simple morning song can calm fears, build confidence and create a sense of belonging. For many children, school can be an overwhelming place. Music softens the edges. It creates warmth. It tells a child, “You are part of something.”

At the primary level, choirs can nurture confidence. A shy child who barely speaks in class may find courage in song. Standing shoulder to shoulder with classmates, that child discovers a voice — literally and figuratively. Performing at school events or national celebrations gives children pride, not only in themselves but in their school and country. At the secondary level, choirs can offer discipline and purpose. Adolescence is a time of turbulence. Music provides an outlet for emotion. It channels energy into something constructive and beautiful. It can keep students engaged, reduce indiscipline and strengthen school spirit.

There are also wider national benefits. A culture of singing in schools builds a culture of appreciation for the arts. It keeps alive our folk songs, our hymns, our patriotic music. It strengthens national identity. Imagine if, across Guyana, each morning began with young voices lifting songs of hope, faith and unity. That is not a small vision. That is nation-building at its most human level.

Importantly, choirs do not demand vast sums of money. They require training, yes. They require commitment. But the basic instrument is already present in every child. With structured teacher training — like the workshop initiated during Dr. Roopnarine’s tenure — we can equip educators with the skills to guide young voices. With modest support, schools can form choirs, hold concerts, and even create inter-school festivals that celebrate music. This is not about nostalgia. It is about balance. For too long, our education debates have centred on grades, passes and performance tables. These matter. But education must also cultivate empathy, creativity and community spirit. Music helps to do that. A child who sings learns to feel. A child who performs learns to stand tall. A child who harmonises learns that strength comes from working together.

In reflecting on Dr. Roopnaraine’s passing, I believe that reviving and expanding his vision of school choirs would be a fitting tribute to his memory. The party he represented in Parliament is no longer in government. But good ideas do not belong to one party. They belong to the nation. When an idea serves our children, it rises above political lines.

Let us therefore take up that simple but profound proposal. Let us encourage choirs and music in all schools — from nursery to secondary, from coast to hinterland. Let us train our teachers, organise our students and allow their voices to be heard. In doing so, we would honour not just a former Minister of Education, but a vision of education that is humane, uplifting and unifying. And perhaps, each morning, as young voices rise in song across Guyana, we would be reminded that the truest instruments of nation-building are already within us.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

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• Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, passing, Peeping Tom, Sing

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