Schools are being urged to avoid the staging of elaborate events as they recognise Jamaica Day 2021 on February 26, under the theme ‘Celebrating Jamaica: ‘Reggae the Message of Resilience and Triumph’.

While the annual celebration – now in its 21st year – is usually marked with several cultural activities undertaken by schools across the island, those activities are expected to be significantly scaled down this year as institutions adhere to protocols established under the Disaster Risk Management Act to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Schools should manage their Jamaica Day activities to ensure that students adhere to the physical-distancing protocol. They are encouraged to have virtual stagings of their events where possible,” said Marlon Williams, senior education officer in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information.

Williams said the focus of this year’s celebration would be on recognising the nation’s music and persons who contributed to its development.

Students at both the primary and secondary levels will also have the opportunity to participate in the inter-school performing arts competition, dubbed the Jamaica Day Creative Competition 2021.

The competition is being staged in partnership with Fontana Pharmacy, which will provide attractive prizes including trophies, cash, plaques and tablets, through sponsorship.

Each participating school will be required to create and record a one-minute music video (maximum three minutes), highlighting the genre (Reggae Music) and the theme.

The piece should include an original song and dance as well as Fontana’s tag line, ‘It’s All Good Inside’, along with the mantra of the Ministry of Education: ‘Every Child Can Learn, Every Child Must Learn’.

The highlight of Jamaica Day 2021 is the staging of the National Civic Ceremony, which will be televised on Television Jamaica (TVJ), starting at 9:00 a.m., in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, along with other organisations.

The civic ceremony will include a flag-raising ceremony, the reading of the Jamaica Day Proclamation, speeches from government ministers and cultural items.

Williams noted that Jamaica Day celebrations are not only limited to schools as organisations in the private and public sectors are invited to participate by draping their premises with the Jamaican colours (black, green and gold and bandana).

The Mmnistry will then determine which entity is adjudged the best decorated building in Jamaica.

“We are also expecting to see every Jamaican dressed in the national colours on February 26 as a show of patriotism and recognition of Jamaica Day 2021,” Williams said