Dear Editor,
Today’s writing was inspired by a post in a WhatsApp group I am a part of with past students from The Bishops’ High School (BHS) located in Georgetown, Guyana. This institution along with St. George’s College (STGC) located in Kingston, Jamaica, my main high school alma mater, are two of the oldest and greatest institutions in the region and are how I identify when I am in Guyana and Jamaica respectively. The WhatsApp post was about an article in a national publication (in Guyana) about a currently enrolled BHS student who has her own small business.
This post came on the heels of some previous posts (in the group), that showed students at BHS creating school-branded products for sale at an expo/fair that took place on the grounds of BHS. It was amazing to see the students’ creativity and attention to detail and the passion displayed in engaging potential buyers. Very inspiring!
This made me relay to the BHS WhatsApp Group that I had the privilege of attending and being able to contribute to the National MSME & Entrepreneurship Consultation Workshop hosted by Jamaica’s Ministry of Industry, Investment, and Commerce (MIIC) in February of this year. Attendees were divided into different work groups, and among the practical and applicable contributions my work group made, I put forward that Entrepreneurship Studies should be mandatory at the primary and secondary school levels similar to Mathematics and English Language for all grade levels. The level of instruction is to be tailored to the grade level.
This is because Mathematics and English Language are essential in primary and secondary education. After all, they form the foundation for critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication. I see Entrepreneurship Studies as the same! It is important for critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication with several extra caveats – students will learn about business, self-sufficiency, how to utilise creativity and what it means to make their own money.
I do not consider nor purport myself to be the brightest person in the Caribbean Community, but necessitating Entrepreneurship Studies at the primary and secondary levels seems like a no-brainer! Beginning entrepreneurship instruction at the primary level sets the stage for more discovery and experimentation when students get to the secondary level. By the time they get to the secondary level, especially if they complete their secondary education, they will have more economic/career options.
Some students unfortunately don’t finish high school and have to work – this makes them better prepared. Some students finish high school and then go on to work – this makes them even better prepared. Some students go on to the tertiary level – this will give them exponential possibilities because they can now add their entrepreneurial instruction and/or exploits on top of a tertiary education and strive for personal economic excellence. Entrepreneurship is a catapult! I have seen so many job postings over the past 5+ years, especially in the international labour market, that ask for a degree in entrepreneurship for seemingly non-business-related jobs. This is because employers see and understand the value of what candidates trained in entrepreneurship bring to every sector operating in an economy.
Here are some best practices in other countries to support my thoughts:
Wales
● Primary Education: The Welsh Government emphasises that all primary schools should integrate entrepreneurship education, focusing on skills development and real-life applications. Programmes encourage children to understand job roles in their community and develop independent thinking through activities like mini-enterprises and fundraising initiatives.
Lithuania and Romania
● Lower Secondary Level: Both countries have established entrepreneurship education as a separate subject at the lower secondary level. This curriculum aims to foster self-awareness, critical thinking, and practical skills related to business processes.
Bulgaria and Serbia
● Collaborative Projects: Initiatives have been launched to link entrepreneurship education between primary, secondary, and higher education institutions. These projects aim to enhance curricula and improve entrepreneurial competencies among students.
I have suggested to my children’s former school Bloom (Jamaica) that they begin this journey as one of the best early childhood institutions in the region that can help lead the way. I have also suggested my children’s current school Sts. Peter & Paul Prep (Jamaica), the largest prep school in the region, can also help to lead the way. Lastly, I have been in discussion with the Career & Placement Services Unit of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus advocating that entrepreneurial-type thinking MUST be embedded in career counselling and guidance for students.
This is the way to move Guyana, Jamaica and the Caribbean Community forward concerning all of our primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. I believe that entrepreneurship, thinking like an entrepreneur and entrepreneurial principles, brighten the light showing that creativity liberally applied is how we will solve regional challenges and issues and strive and succeed as one people, one region, with one aim and one destiny!
Sincerely,
Nicholas McDavid
