Minister of Education Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine on Saturday said that his ministry was committed to returning sports in the curriculum of schools, looking to produce well-rounded athletes and ensuring that monies allocated for sports were utilized by student athletes.
Dr. Roopnarine was at the time delivering the feature address at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) at the opening ceremony of the 10th National Schools Basketball Festival, organized by Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG).
Among the audience at Saturday’s gala opening ceremony which featured a colourful march past of the participating teams were Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green, Permanent Secretary Alfred King, president of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) Nigel Hinds and YBG Director Chris Bowman.
One of the key points of the minister’s address was his mention that not only will money be allocated for sports but that athletes stood to benefit the most from the allocation.
“Monies allocated to sports will first and foremost benefit the athletes,” he declared.
In the PPP/C administration which lost the May 11 2015 polls to the present coalition government, monies allocated for sports were used to erect sports facilities unlike in other countries where elite athletes receive funding from their governments.
Roopnaraine said that his ministry also wanted to improve the level of sports in the country.
“We want much more enrichment than simple academic programmes,” he declared adding that the aim was to produce well rounded students.
“I believe that for children at school, school and the classroom, much more enrichment than simple academic achievement can offer. This coming vacation, we’re organising a music workshop for our teachers for music in the schools and for me putting music back in the schools and stimulating sporting activities are all part of what I believe a more complete school education entails,” he declared.
He praised the efforts of the YBG organization and also commended the sponsors for supporting the venture.
Speaking of the week-long competition which is aimed to producing the top basketball school in the country, Dr. Roopnaraine, who excelled at cricket while at school said: “To the young players and someone who had the distinct pleasure and privilege of representing my own school and the county of Demerara in sport, I know the excitement you must now be feeling as this completion takes off.
“I want to encourage you to engage in fierce competition and may the best team win,” he added.
Schools, St. Rose’s High School and Kwakwani Secondary were singled out for for participating in the competition every year in the 10 year history of the event while top female coach Ann Gordon of Kwakwani, received a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Seven players were also named youth basketball ambassadors.
In his remarks, founder member of YGB Bowman advocated that the competing teams play with the spirt and passion they normally play with.
“Basketball requires a lot of work to build a foundation; we can be part of this process to build a foundation; that is part of what we do. We are committed to working with the national federation in schools to see how we can build a better basketball structure,” Bowman said adding that the aim was to eventually build a senior team of some repute especially since this year’s team placed 10 at the CARICOM basketball championships held earlier this year.
President of the GABF Hinds spoke of YBG’s work complementing that of the federation and its objective to have a better national senior team participate internationally.
“It’s good to see we are moving in unison; what we have recognised is that there’s a gap between senior players and what we have here. The time is now for our student-athletes,” Hinds declared.
Also making speeches were Green and King.
