Minister of Education, the Honourable Anthony Garcia and members of the Ministry of Education’s Strategic Executive Team met with the President and the Assistant General Secretary of the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO), Mr. Lutalo ‘Brother Resistance’ Masimba and Ms. Shirlane Hendrickson, to discuss joint initiatives aimed at promoting calypso in schools. The meeting, held at the Education Tower, #5 St Vincent Street, Port of Spain on Friday 4th October 2019, was a continuation of previous discussions held on the use of calypso as a tool for teaching and learning.
As TUCO observes Calypso History Month, Minister Garcia saw this as an opportunity to revitalise the teaching of calypso in the nation’s schools through the Visual and Performing Arts Curriculum. Minister Garcia stated, “It is incumbent upon us that we ensure that all our young charges are exposed to all aspects of our cultural heritage, notably the steelpan and calypso which gave birth to so many sub-genres that we enjoy today.”
At the meeting, the establishment of a cross-functional team was agreed upon which will comprise representatives from TUCO, the Curriculum Planning and Development Division, Multicultural Music Programme Unit, Laventille/Morvant Schools’ Improvement Project and other key Units and Divisions of the Ministry. The objective of this partnership with TUCO is to assure the sustainability of calypso as an art form well beyond the carnival season.
The Ministry of Education continues on its thrust toward providing universal access, ensuring quality and equity and good governance in all schools through stakeholder partnerships that will allow for the holistic development of all students.