Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office wiith responsibility for Pan African Affairs Trevor Prescod has called for a stronger push to place Barbadian-written books in primary schools, arguing that early exposure to culturally relevant stories could significantly improve literacy and deepen children’s connection to language.
Speaking at the launch of the BIM@60 campaign at the Barbados Museum on Wednesday, Prescod said the country needed to support its writers, particularly those producing books for younger readers.
He acknowledged that introducing more Barbadian texts at the secondary and tertiary levels could be challenging because of prescribed examination reading lists, and said the focus should begin much earlier.
“So I said let us do it in the primary schools or even in the pre-primary stages.”
The minister said he wanted children to grow up reading stories that reflected their own environment rather than characters and settings inherited from colonial influences.
“I don’t want… Flopsy Bunny or any of these characters like that. I want something that is Barbadian. And if you go a little above that, could be Caribbean, but don’t bring anything to me that is influenced by the colonial experience.”
He revealed that, after making the appeal publicly, authors presented him with numerous indigenous books, which he intends to take to the ministry as part of efforts to advocate for greater investment.
“I want you… to help me work to persuade the people at the highest level to at least spend some millions every year putting those books within the primary school, and I would bet you that the children have a better understanding, especially of literature and English language in general, just having some of their own material.”
National Cultural Foundation-supported author Shakirah Bourne has launched the Bajan Anansi school tour, saying she hopes the initiative would encourage children to develop a love for reading by exposing them to stories grounded in Barbadian culture. The programme followed concerns raised about literacy challenges among students sitting this year’s Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination.
Prescod made the remarks while launching BIM@60, a national campaign by the Barbados Museum & Historical Society, in partnership with the NCF, that invites the public to help identify the 60 songs that have shaped Barbados since independence.
While highlighting the country’s musical achievements, he said Barbados had produced internationally recognised performers whose success demonstrated the potential of the cultural industries.
“We now have excellence in calypso… We also have the regional and global success of Alison Hinds, Edwin Yearwood, Rupee, Lil Rick and other internationally acclaimed musicians, producers and arrangers.”
Recalling Rihanna’s global impact, he said hearing passengers sing one of her songs during an overseas flight reinforced the influence of Barbadian talent.
“I recognised how powerful the voice of artists are. But I also recognised how often Barbadian artists and the talent were resonating.”
He urged musicians and cultural practitioners to work closely with government and the National Cultural Foundation to expand the creative industries over the coming decades.
“When we stop at this point, I say 60 years, when we want to go out to 100 years… we should be able to make a difference in the next 40 years ahead as a result of giving all the support to the artists that we can.”
Prescod also argued that culture “can be the instrument that we can use in order to help bring them back on track. I strongly believe that.”
Experienced musicians and artists had a responsibility to mentor younger performers, he added.
“The senior musicians, the artists, they must work with them. National Cultural Foundation will do so. The ministry will do so.”
The minister also invited the public to participate in upcoming Emancipation celebrations, noting that the Office of Pan African Affairs and Heritage would continue activities aimed at strengthening national identity and appreciation of Barbadian history and culture.
(LE)
The post Prescod wants more Bajan books in primary schools appeared first on Barbados Today.
