Steelpan for Sat?

This question was posed by Minister of Community Develop-ment Joan Yuille-Williams, during Tuesday’s sitting of the Senate, in response to a statement by Independent Senator Parvatee Anmolsingh-Mahabir.

The Independent Senator read out a 2005 Maha Sabha Education Board report which had called for the teaching of all types of musical instruments. Anmolsingh-Mahabir, a Maha Sabha official, read: "Promote formal music teaching of all musical instruments from the primary level."

At that Yuille-Williams asked her to elaborate on what she meant.

"Could we say that the steel-pan will be one of those in the Maha Sabha schools?"

Anmolsingh-Mahabir replied: "I cannot speak for Mr Sat Maharaj, but I know that he did mention that once they have all the various instruments, students should be free to choose whatever instruments they will like to play, including the pan, of course."

Yuille-Williams smiled and simply said: "Be careful!"

The issue arose when Anmolsingh-Mahabir claimed that the 1960 Concordat between the Government and denominational school boards was being disregarded to the disadvantage of the schools.

She said the Concordat stated that teachers must first apply to the denominational boards which would forward their recommendations to the Ministry of Education, but that this agreement was now being circumvented.

"The boards are being undermined in the matter of promotion, appointments and transfers of staff."

She said the Concordat stated that the State must fund by 100 percent any grants to denominational schools for items like furniture, equipment, maintenance, utilities, security, and expansion of existing plant and facilities. Moreso, such allocations must be in line with the funding of State schools.

Such funding, she said, was required to assist denominational schools to continue to provide top quality education.

Anmolsingh-Mahabir read out allegations from Sat Maharaj that the Romain Report of 2002 was being used to covertly undermine the Concordat, but Minister of Education Hazel Manning said this was not so.

Manning said since the time Maharaj had made his charge a year ago, circumstances had considerably changed.