Local News

Preparations are being made to introduce the teaching of the Garifuna language and arts and craft in two Toledo schools. Correspondent Paul Mahung has the story.

PAUL MAHUNG

Toledo Correspondent

Love FM

“Teachers and other stakeholders of the upcoming in schools program were in training sessions on Monday and Tuesday in Punta Gorda as part of preparations for the introductory phase of the program which is part of the Battle of the Drums cultural retrieval and preservation agenda.  Sessions were facilitated by Garifuna Linguist Roy Cayetano and the program coordinator Fabian Cayetano.”

FABIAN CAYETANO

Program Coordinator

“Our set goals for this project are to retrieve and promote the rich Garifuna cultural heritage including Garifuna language, music, dance, arts and crafts and cultural traditions at the physical, social and spiritual levels.  Our objectives are to familiarize participants with Garifuna culture and historical struggles in the will to survive as a people and as a nation; to stress the need for the Garifuna language retrieval by speaking, listening, reading and writing Garifuna in our two pilot schools.  And thirdly, to produce a curriculum framework integrating Garifuna and English as part of an inter-cultural bilingual education program.”

PAUL MAHUNG

Toledo Correspondent

Love FM

“Fabian Cayetano also spoke of the Intercultural Bilingual Education program implementation phase”

FABIAN CAYETANO

Program Coordinator

“As a part of this IBE pilot project, namely two schools, St. Joseph RC School in Barranco, where the stress will be on teaching Garifuna at the Infant one, Infant two and Standard one level with arts and craft at the Standard three, standard four level.  In Punta Gorda, the participants here will be namely, Infant one and Standard three with the teaching of Garifuna at the Infant one level and arts and craft at the Standard three level.  The piloting of the project begins in September and will end in May/June next year with an evaluation.”

 PAUL MAHUNG

Toledo Correspondent

Love FM

“President of the Battle of the Drums Secretariat Darius Avila said that the introduction of the teaching of the Garifuna Language and Garifuna Arts and craft program in two Toledo Primary Schools is financed jointly  by  UNICEF and the Battle of the Drums Secretariat.                                                                               Avila commented that the project is complimentary to other Battle of Drums Secretariat projects including the Battle of the Drums Garifuna Drumming in Schools Program, the annual summer camp and the annual Primary Schools Garifuna Translation Contest.                                                                                                        Of interest and related to another project, Avila also confirmed that this year’s Battle of the Drums Competition and show will be in Punta Gorda on Saturday Nov.17.                                                                                                                                            Reporting for Love News, Paul Mahung, Punta Gorda.”

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