Junior Achievement program expands to include students at the primary and junior school levels

Wed, Jan 25th 2012, 09:57 AM

For 32 years, Junior Achievement (JA) has been the pioneers of training the country's youth in the area of business in The Bahama, and has impacted the lives of approximately 42,000 high school Bahamians.  Now it aims to broaden its scope.  JA Bahamas plans to  expands its program to include two new initiatives at the junior and primary school levels.
"Our focus in the past has been primarily on students in grades 10 through 12 at various institution.  We have examined our efforts and conclude that a more expansive outreach is required, given the current need in a global ever-changing environment," said Raymond Winder, chairman of the board of directors of JA Bahamas.  The program is being expanded in an effort to equip young Bahamians with skills that will significantly impact their individual contributions as responsible citizens of the world.  The two new programs will come on stream on Monday, January 30.
The programs are seven-week, modular-based interactive programs that will be executed by volunteers and teachers.  With the assistance of the JA alumni community, the government's Volunteer Bahamas program and the commitment of teachers at participating schools, Winder said JA has been able to secure the participation of skilled and responsible Bahamians to execute the initiatives.
Currently there are 400 students registered at the elementary level where financial literacy, citizenship, work readiness and the values of entrepreneurship are shared.  The principles are executed through activity-based, interactive role playing, where the children are encouraged to compare skills among themselves with their families, communities and nationally.
Participating elementary schools include Thelma Gibson Primary, St. Thomas More Catholic School, St. Bede's Catholic School, Xavier's Lower School, Our Lady's Catholic School, Woodcock Primary School, Trinity Christian Schools, Yellow Elder Primary, Mable Walker Primary, Gerald Cash Primary, Garvin Tynes Primary, St. Anne's School and Columbus Primary School.
At the junior school level, Winder says JA envisions that achievers will participate in two modules that will focus on the basics of economics for success and business ethics. He further envisions that the  principles learned may be applied in their personal lives and the development of a professional career.
"The JA Business Ethics program will be the most important of the sessions to be offered at the junior school level.  We have deemed this to be our flagship program for youth 12 to 14 years of age.  Currently there are 1,189 students registered in the program."
He said that scandals in the business community have eroded public confidence, and that JA Business Ethics program is designed to foster ethical decision-making in the students as they prepare to enter the workforce.
"Students learn to recognize, analyze and apply basic terminology, theories and concepts common to the study of ethics.  They explore their own ethical values and philosophy, establish ethical priorities, recognize key ethical issues, and learn to evaluate their decision-making processes.  We believe that a focus on ethics is the foundation to molding the citizens of the new Bahamas," he noted.
Junior schools participating include T.A. Thompson, L.W. Young, Kingsway Academy, Christian Heritage School, Zion Christian School, C.H. Reeves, S.C. McPherson, D.W. Davis, H.O. Nash, Anatol Rodgers, St. John's College, Queen's College, Jordan Prince Williams The Baptist School and Charles Saunders Baptist School.
Winder said JA Bahamas intends to expand further into the Family Islands with the new program, and also has a plan to provide a specialized session for ninth-grade students on global market business venturing.  The projected annual impact is estimated to be 7,000 participants with the commitment of all junior schools on New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco and Long Island alone.
He also said that all programs will be executed with set curricula as provided by JA Worldwide's department of curriculum and education. Teachers and volunteers will undergo training with JA's training staff in The Bahamas.  A special training session will be facilitated via the Internet by JA Worldwide's staff in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

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