Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 10, 2016 News
Event not a waste-of-time activity – Education Ministry
By Mondale Smith
The Education Ministry’s Allied Arts Department is encouraging parents to understand that the Children’s Mash event is not a “waste-of-time activity” but rather, it is to foster the development of socializing while boosting
their self-confidence.
This notion was expressed yesterday by Lorraine Barker-King, the Drama Director at the Allied Arts Department, as the ministry collected a $4 million sponsorship from communication giant, GTT.
“We are advising parents to encourage their children to participate in the children’s mash activities as a means to boosting their social skills as well as their confidence and self-esteem,” Barker-King told this publication.
Meanwhile, contrary to the belief that Mashramani activities will be void of a float parade this year, the education ministry is pulling out all the stops to make the nation’s children’s road parade the largest ever to date.
To make this a reality, under its “DO MORE” brand, GTT yesterday unveiled for a sixth consecutive year, its partnership with the Ministry of Education, in hosting this year’s Children Costume Parade slated for February 20.
Event Coordinator Desiree Wyles-Ogle said all is set for Guyana to experience the largest contingent of children’s costumes and floats and she is crediting GTT for again helping to make the event a reality.
GTT’s Marketing Manager Anjanie Hackett presented the sponsorship cheque.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education Delma Nedd collected the symbolic cheque at GTT’s Brickdam Head Office even as the company also announced that Designer Derek Moore is already working feverishly to complete a 64-strong contingent that will be donning full costumes representing GTT’s progressive plans for the parade.
Hackett said GTT is excited to be part of this year’s activity, especially since it forms part of the Jubilee celebrations.
The 64-strong contingent will see students from St. Sidwell’s and Enterprise Primary Schools, decked out in bright, vibrant artistic costumes created by Derek Moore under the theme “Spectrum: Generation Next”.
The theme according to Designer Moore is very topical since the telephone company is looking forward to the granting of spectrum to offer 3G/4G network service to its customers and this will be displayed creatively by the lead Queen float as well as through the various head dress for the individual costumes.
In expressing gratitude for the large cash donation – which came as a surprise to the ministry officials present at the ceremony – the Convener, Mrs. Wyles-Ogle, said more than 3,000 students from the 11 education districts are expected to participate in this year’s parade.
Nedd, while expressing gratitude, promised that event will be one that is fun, filled with excitement, and is also open to parents’ participation.
OVERALL BUDGET IN EXCESS OF $9M
The children’s Mashramani activities are institutionalized as part of the calendar of activities for schools Convener Desiree Wyles-Ogle told this publication. “This is not just for Georgetown but for schools across all the regions of Guyana, and already those regions have had their activities from region 1-10, and for educational purposes also in the Georgetown district.”
The regional programmes featured dance and masquerade, dramatic poetry, calypso and costume in addition to physical displays.
She noted that the finals are carded for staging in Georgetown from February 17-19th at the National Cultural Centre, which will feature all the first place winners clashing from the various regions for national honours.
“That event will feature a wide range of creativity that would reflect the regions that they are from, with an age range of 5-17 years old.”
Aside from competitions this year’s mash activities will feature the regional choir presentation in addition to performances from the Georgetown education district presenting what is being dubbed “salute to Guyana through the delivery of a national song and any other song of their choice”.
While explaining the $9m budget for the national finals of the children’s costume competition, Drama Director Barker-King said the GTT $4m sponsorship will be spent entirely for the Jubilee costume parade on February 20.
She told this publication that the additional monies that are coming from the Education Ministry’s coffers will be used to accommodate the children who are billed to participate who will be coming to Georgetown from regions 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9.
“Aside from accommodation we have to provide three square meals in addition to us providing meals for children from regions 5, 6 and 10 on the days of the competition and this is for four days.” The additional cost will be racked up in providing trophies and other prizes.
As a prelude to 2017 for the mash activities this year, the nation’s youth will also be part of the introduction of choral speaking (the recitation of poetry or prose by a chorus or ensemble).
“Everything will be culminated with the grand jubilee parade in collaboration with GTT,” Wyles-Ogle said.
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
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