Raisedon Baya

LAST week the focus on this column was arts education and how the proposed introduction of arts education in the Zimbabwean education system was a welcome development. We expressed our excitement about the formalisation of arts education in this country — this is something we have always advocated as artistes. We are happy that our dream is becoming real. Last week we looked at how the arts are both a manifestation of culture as well as the means of communication of cultural knowledge and how awareness and knowledge of cultural practices and art forms can strengthen personal and collective identities and values. This we gave as one good reason why we should all welcome the introduction of arts education in our schools. In all honesty arts education enables children to develop perspectives which cannot be discovered through other educational means. Perspectives and, perhaps, skills they definitely need to survive in this ever changing world.

And this week we ask one or two important questions about the coming of proper arts education in our schools. The first of these questions concerns our readiness to implement the proposed programme. Are we, as a country, really ready for the introduction of arts education in our schools? We ask this question because we are very aware that there is a big difference between wanting to do something and actually doing it. There is also a difference between doing something for the sake of being seen to be doing something and doing something right and proper. Are our schools ready to implement arts education? Remember there are a lot of school heads that have a serious attitude towards the arts. Have these been sensitised about the importance of the arts?