By Stabroek staff | September 28, 2010
Volumes of Guyana Classics will be distributed to the Sixth Form schools in Georgetown, the Berbice High and New Amsterdam Secondary School.
In an effort to support the Education Ministry’s ‘Education Month’ activities, the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport on Friday delivered to that ministry over 60 packets, each containing 11 volumes of Guyana Classics books, and schools including President’s College, Queen’s College, Bishops’ High, St Rose’s High and St Joseph High will receive copies of these books for their libraries, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.
In addition, a limited supply of the books will be available at Austin’s Book Store on Church Street at $2,500 each.
According to Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony this partnership venture will enable children to have access to the books and be familiar with the country’s history from as early as the 15th century.
He noted that some of the books relate to the medical development of the country, particularly in dental health, and the immigration of Chinese to Guyana.
Anthony added that these books will supplement those already in the school system.
And soon there will be a festival of words that would encourage students to write poems and short stories, and these will be critiqued by established writers and the qualified pieces will subsequently be published, the minister disclosed.
The Guyana Classics initiative emerged at a meeting between President Bharrat Jagdeo and Professor David Dabydeen when Guyana hosted the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) X in 2008.
The books were manufactured by the Caribbean Printing Press which falls under the ambit of the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport, GINA stated.
The Culture Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Alfred King said the books will encourage competency and skills relating to literacy and they will be useful, particularly to CXC students.
Meanwhile, GINA quoted Upper Sixth Form student of Bishops’ High, Stephan Josiah as saying that the books will be a great asset to the school’s library, giving students more materials to conduct research.
He added that they will also help youths to understand the history of the country while at the same time preserving it.