Garifuna Language in Schools Program

In January 2008, as part of its Cultural Retrieval Program, The Battle of the Drums Secretariat established at Garifuna Drumming in Schools Program at St. Peter Claver Primary School 2012, this program has been expanded to include the teaching of the Garifuna Language to the participants.  The program has therefore now evolved into the Battle of the Drums Drumming and Garifuna Language in Schools Program. This program targets primary school-age children from both St. Peter Claver School and St. Benedict R.C. School. The Battle of the Drums Secretariat is of the belief that a large cross-section of students will be reached if the teaching of the Garifuna Language and other aspects of the Garifuna culture is integrated into the school system. The Battle of the Drums Secretariat engaged the Ministry of Education and the management of two (2) schools, namely St. Peter Claver School of Punta Gorda Town and St. Joseph R. C. School of Barranco Village to introduce the teaching of the Garifuna Language and Garifuna arts and craft.

Using the School Improvement Planning (SIP) Model, the Battle of the Drums Secretariat has conceptualized a plan to bring about the necessary integration.  A brief description of the plan is as follows:

Integration of the teaching of the Garifuna Language into the school system:

1. Target classes: Infants I to Std. 6 at St. Joseph R. C. School and Infant I to Standard. 1 at St. Peter Claver School.
2. Objectives:

1. 1. Enhance teachers’ knowledge, skills, and abilities in imparting Garifuna Language Lessons.
   2. Provide introductory lessons in Garifuna Language to students of the target classes.

Integration of the teaching of Garifuna arts and craft into the school system:

1. Target classes: Standards 2 and 3 at St. Joseph R. C. School and Standard 3 at St. Peter Claver School.
2. Objectives:
   1. Enhance teachers’ and facilitators’ knowledge, skills, and abilities in teaching young students.

Provide lessons to students of the target classes in the making of Garifuna arts and craft