JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) continues to pledge its intentions to broaden the involvement of more young boys and girls in cricket in the Caribbean.

The Director of the Board of Education of Antigua and Barbuda, Mr Clare Browne announced on Thursday, (May 3) that the Chirpy’s Classroom Adventure – Teacher’s Manual will be implemented in 24 public and private schools across the island, commencing in the opening of the school year in September 2018.

Browne commended CWI and the Kiddy Cricket Program for taking the initiative to ensure that budding cricketers are equipped with options for life after cricket as well as rebuild the glory that was West Indies cricket. “We have to take the cricket back to our youngsters.”

Browne also highlighted that the manual aims to assist teachers teach the curricula in Mathematics, Language, Technology, Social Studies, Science, Information Technology, Healthy Lifestyles and Child Protection.

CWI’s Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams summed it up brilliantly, saying “Cricket is socially and culturally part of us in the Caribbean.” Adams further elaborated that “The lessons learnt in cricket and the academics can work hand in hand to enhance education and development in the Caribbean.”

The Kiddy Cricket Program, CWI’s longest running partnership, have joined forced with Boards of Education from the various cricket playing territories from across the region to ensure that the younger generation have a more balanced curriculum.

CWI and Scotiabank have been partners for over 17 years for the Kiddy Cricket Program which reaches up to 800 primary schools in the region, impacting just about 135,000 children from ages 6 – 11 years old.

-CWI