GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer

Music education in schools in north-west Clarendon got a major boost recently with the announcement that they would be assigned music coaches come September, at the start of the new academic year.

This was revealed by Member of Parliament for the constituency Richard Azan, while speaking at the official launch of a musical education project at the Spalding United Church.

Azan told the audience, which was jam packed with students, educators (past and present), parents, and members of the political directorate, that the assigning of music coaches to most of the schools in the constituency is a continuation of a project that he started in a number of schools some years ago, with a donation of $8 million worth of musical equipment.

"I thought long and hard about helping to assist in the improvement of music education in the schools. I am happy with how the schools in the constituency are utilising the instruments which they were given, and all schools in the constituency will get musical instruments shortly," said Azan.

The MP said he is encouraged by the way in which students in the various schools have been utilising their talents in playing the various instruments. He shared that in addition to the 10 schools that had already been given instruments, other schools will be added to the project this month.

Paulette Mitchell, project director at the CHASE Fund, which also sponsors the music education project in north- west Clarendon, said her agency would continue to provide and replace instruments for the project.

Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education Elaine Foster-Allen said she was impressed with the immense talents seen among the many students who performed.