84 graduate from MOE/ Republic Bank Pan Minors Workshop
(Georgetown, Monday, July 31, 2017) – Through a collaborative initiative of the Ministry of Education Department of Culture Youth and Sport and Republic Bank Guyana, the Steel Pan art form has been boosted with more human resource.
On Friday last, The Republic Bank in association with the National School of Music awarded Certificates to eighty four (84) youths to mark their completion of the ‘Republic Bank Right Start Pan Minors Music Literacy Programme’ that commenced on Monday 11th July and ended on Thursday 27th July, 2017.
The event was attended by Republic Bank executives including the Chairperson, Mrs. Jannis London, Manager’s Assistant, Learning and Talent Development, Ms. Denise Hobbs, General Manager, Operations and Mr. Yugisther Mohabir, Assistant Manager, Information Technology.
Hon. Nicolette Henry M.P., Minister of Education, while delivering the feature address noted that the National School of Music’s partnership with Republic Bank has borne fruit as, “Many school aged children, particularly at the secondary level have benefited….and are actively involved in steel pan concerts and competitions, such as the annual Republic Bank Pan-O-Rama”.
Minister Henry commented too that, “Republic Bank has invested millions of dollars over the year to help spread steel pan music throughout the country, and I trust, will continue to do so as there is no better investment than investing in our young people!” for which her ministry and by extension the country is grateful.
Minister Henry also expressed the desire that the, “…partnership to continue as an important part of the government’s strategic development plan to establish Fifteen (15) new school bands by 2020. Steel pan music in Guyana has a rich and interesting history and legacy, and we want to continue this legacy by having as many schools as possible equipped with steel pans”.
Mr. Andrew Tyndall, Administrator of The National School of Music and organiser of the programme in his missive declared the camp a success. He further urged the children to apply the same level of dedication and commitment they showed over the three weeks of the camp as they continue to play and also apply the same to their lives including their school work.
He thanked the parents, who also attended the ceremony, for making sure their children attended the programme every day.
In a separate interview, Mr. Tyndall revealed that this year’s programme was special. For the first time the programme reached out to the Child Care Protection Agency to include children from the Drop-In Centre in Georgetown and Mahaica and Mr. Tyndall expressed elation that as a result all of the children completing the programme with diligence and enthusiasm, the Ministry of Education, through The National School of Music will be holding a permanent steel-pan programme for the children from the Drop-In Centre.
