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Jun 11, 2015 News
Just about a month into her new post as Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry has indicated that the integration of culture and sports into the education system is an issue high on her agenda.
The Ministry of Education now has the responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport in Guyana and, according to Henry, strategic plans are needed for the development of these areas. Before any integration can be done, she said, a review of all the current areas is necessary. She added that this review will allow for a comprehensive approach to problems that may arise.
“I first of all have to look at what they’re working on in regards to their strategic plans and then those things that are working well, we’ll continue to work in those areas and strengthen them,” Henry said.
She went on that areas that needed a “little more attention” in order to work better will receive adjustments while those areas that may not be well suited for the ministry will be terminated.
“So there are three categories: those are that working well, those that have the potential to work better, and those that may not meet our needs,” she said.
She further said that getting sport and culture activities in the school system was “on the front burner”.
I’m really happy that the two ministries are now functioning as one because that can remove any bureaucracy with regards to working inter-sectorially,” she said. Additionally, Henry indicated that she wanted to place some emphasis on the way strategies are implemented. She explained that primarily evidence-based practices are necessary, particularly where it relates to sport. She added that “a little more” can be received from Guyana’s youths while a higher level of performance can be achieved. Integration, she added, was key.
Henry said that she would ensure that culture in Guyana is with keeping with the same level seen in other Caribbean countries.
She said, “We want to ensure that we are at that level and we want to take the necessary steps to ensure that we do the type of implementation that will result in that level.”
When questioned on the difficulties that may arise, particularly with regard to reintegrating sport, Henry opined that the process wouldn’t be difficult at all. Instead, she said, it was “quite doable”. She further said that the reintegration of sport presented a good opportunity for Guyanese students to perform on an international level.
“If our students are to be accepted at universities in the first world, then they need to be balanced,” Henry said. She continued, “We would recognise that we don’t produce the most balanced students and therefore we currently have in the school system Physical Education being offered.”
This mechanism, she said, can be expanded from what is currently being offered. She went on, “I also believe that outside of that – for students that have the aptitude to really excel in sport – that would present a good opportunity of talent spotting and therefore we would work with those on a different scale, based on their aptitude.”
She re-emphasised that what lies ahead was not as daunting as most people think and stated that only a strategic approach to issues is needed.
According to Henry, Guyana will be looking towards the best practices of other countries and in turn will use these to produce rounded students. She added that, with the use of these best practices and evidence-based strategies, achievements should be made in a short period of time.
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