Schools Receive Musical Instruments
By: , September 30, 2015The Key Point:
Photo: Melroy Sterling
Organisation for Strategic Development in Jamaica representative, Ms. Pathellia Richards (fourth left), hands Education Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites (second right), a flute, at the launch of the Music in Schools Programme and handing over of instruments, at the Alpha Institute, South Camp Road, in Kingston, on September 29. Sharing the occasion are (from left): Chief Education Officer in the Education Ministry, Dr. Grace McClean; Assistant Chief Educator in the Ministry’s Core-Curriculum Unit, Dr. Clover Hamilton Flowers; Senior Education Officer in the Performing Arts Section of the Ministry, Marlon Williams; Principal of Denbigh High School, Mrs. Kasan Troupe and Principal of Papine High School, Mr. Leighton Christie.The Facts
- Bass guitars, a flute, maracas and melodicas, among several other instruments, were donated by the Organisation of Strategic Development in Jamaica (OSDJ).
- The Music in Schools Programme is a partnership between the OSDJ and the Ministry of Education.
The Full Story
Several musical instruments were presented to the Denbigh and Papine High Schools, at the launch of a Music in Schools Programme, today (September 29), at the Alpha Institute, in Kingston. The institute is also set to benefit under the programme.
Bass guitars, a flute, maracas and melodicas, among several other instruments, were donated by the Organisation of Strategic Development in Jamaica (OSDJ).
Education Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, in an address to students and teachers from the respective institutions, commended and thanked the OSDJ for its donation.
“This is exactly the kind of partnership we need,” Rev. Thwaites told the gathering.
The Minister said that the OSDJ, based in Minnesota, United States, could have spent their money elsewhere, but instead chose to invest in the Music in Schools Programme.
“The whole of your education is a gift that others are giving to you. I really urge you to take it very seriously,” Rev. Thwaites told the students.
Music, he informed, can also be used as a means of learning many lessons of different kinds, and that students can use it for a career.
Meanwhile, Ms. Pathellia Richards of the OSDJ, expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Education for its support in the development of the programme, as well as other stakeholders, such as Food for the Poor.
“We look forward to the visit of Jamaican stakeholders to Minnesota in 2016 where we will continue the effort of building a collaborative network of music educators and students in Minnesota,” she said.
Principals of Denbigh and Papine High Schools expressed appreciation for the donations made by the OSDJ.
“I am very happy. Our students are happy. This will offer a new dimension to our vocational department. We are very grateful,” said Papine High Principal, Mr. Leighton Christie.
“We are very grateful for this,” said Denbigh High Principal, Mrs. Kasan Troupe.
Noting that the school was about to remove music from its curriculum, Mrs. Troupe said it remained after she received a call notifying her of the intention to donate instruments to the school.
A $2 million donation from Member of Parliament for Central Clarendon, Mike Henry, to construct a facility at the school for the teaching of music, also aided in the subject remaining on the curriculum.
The Music in Schools Programme is a partnership between the OSDJ and the Ministry of Education.