Schools using music to improve literacy, numeracy
PRINCIPALS of two primary schools are confident that targeted groups of their student population will benefit greatly from a new teaching/learning strategy using music, which was recently implemented in their institutions.
Carlene Williams-Heath, principal of the Park Mountain Primary School near Santa Cruz in St Elizabeth and her counterpart, Richard Williams, principal of the Gregory Park Primary School in Portmore, St Catherine, say they are pleased with the joint partnership between the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information (MOEYI) and First Global Bank (FGB), in introducing the Music Literacy Programme in their schools.
Coined ‘Music, Perfect Pitch for a Sound Education’, which was rolled out initially in six schools across St James, Manchester and Kingston and St Andrew in 2011, focuses on the use of music as a methodology in increasing literacy and numeracy among students in grades three and four in select primary schools.
With the addition of the Park Mountain and Gregory Park primary schools, this has increased to 17, the number of primary schools now officially drafted into the programme. Other schools in St Catherine and St Ann are also part of the programme.
“First Global Bank remains a committed partner in pursuing the goal of 100 per cent literacy and numeracy in our primary schools and we are very pleased with the steps we have been taking over the past six years in realising this goal,” said Norman Thompson, assistant vice-president in charge of personal and business banking at FGB.
Expressing her strong passion for music, Williams-Heath said she was aware of the positive benefits that can be derived from it to teach. “This project has come at an appropriate time, when we, as an institution, are on a drive to increase our literacy and numeracy levels. What better strategy to use than music?”
Added Thompson: “We believe that through the Music Literacy project, we have been creating happier children and teachers, with classrooms full of engaged and interested minds, with the capacity to think, perceive, analyse and act upon ideas.”
“We are delighted that FGB and the MOEYI have hand-picked us to be included in the project, which we are confident will enhance literacy and numeracy performances among our students,” said Williams.
