Sharie De Castro speaking at the handing-over ceremony on Wednesday, March 15

(JTV News) — The theme for Education Week, being observed in the territory, from March 13-19, is “Virgin Islands Education: Moving Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead”. S.T.E.A.M stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

Will the next government continue full S.T.E.A.M ahead after the April 24, 2023 General Elections?

Well, the president of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP), Sharie de Castro, speaking at a handing-over ceremony on Wednesday, March 15 where Maples and Calder donated music equipment to the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS), said not only was S.T.E.A.M, “truly the mandate of the Ministry of Education for this new school year,” but there has been a focus on the art component this time around.

De Castro said over the years, the focus has been on the technical areas, but studies have shown that the art component is very important.

“There’s been long discussions, there’s data that supports the reality of the importance of the arts in education,” she told the gathering at the ESHS Music Department.

“Oftentimes we focus on STEM [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics] and there has been a huge mandate for that over the years but the arts aspect of it is what we are seeking to truly begin to blossom.”

De Castro said the arts in the territory, especially music, were affected by the ravages of the two hurricanes.

She continued: “… For years, as an example, the music programme at the Elmore Stoutt High School flourished, and of course, due to the hurricanes they would have faced a great hit in terms of the resources that would have been available to truly allow the talent to continue to blossom and prosper.”

On behalf of the education ministry, De Castro expressed her gratitude to Maples for their donation 62 new musical instruments — two bass guitars, seven alto saxophones, 15 clarinets, 15 flutes, five trombones, three tenor saxophones, and 15 trumpets — to the ESHS Music Programme.

Richard May, the managing partner of Maples and Calder law firm, during his remarks at the handing-over ceremony, suggested that more attention needs to be given to the development of art education in the territory.

“The arts generally is something that is woefully undersupported here – because of the pressures – it is not because people dont want to do it,” he said. “So we are very happy to support it [the arts – music department] again.”

John Primo, the director of procurement at the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), is also a supporter of the musical art form. He told the students at the ceremony that, according to reports, playing musical instruments “makes you smarter”.

“A few researchers have determined that musical study develops critical thinking and self-discipline, as well as cognitive development, basic math and reading abilities at an early age. In addition to these skills, students who are involved in a music programme have a higher self-esteem, a greater sense of teamwork, better school attendance, and are less likely to become involved in gangs and substance abuse. We are confident that the students of this programme and this great school will produce some of the future leaders of this territory,” Primo said.