New Model for Teaching Enterprise Skills to Primary School Children Unveiled

A new model for teaching entrepreneurial skills to primary school children was unveiled today by BizWorld Ireland.

The organisation has teamed up with Mary Immaculate College (MIC) in Limerick to train students in the delivery of its BizWorld programme for primary schools, which is aimed at teaching children about enterprise, money management and problem-solving in fun and creative ways.

The Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan TD, officially launched the partnership between BizWorld Ireland and Mary Immaculate College this morning, at a special event in MIC.

Commenting at the launch, Minister O’Sullivan said, “This is an innovative programme that will enable students in Mary Immaculate College draw on the insight and experience that BizWorld has developed.

“Young students in primary school are naturally curious and inquisitive and the programme will ensure that they learn about managing money and a budget in a fun and engaging way.  The programme also encourages young students to think about entrepreneurship, how it can facilitate creativity and how it can contribute to society.

“The National Policy Statement on Entrepreneurship, published last year, acknowledges the significant role education plays in fostering a culture of entrepreneurship.  This partnership between MIC and Bizworld complements that theme and will provide the next generation of primary school teachers with the tools necessary to engage and excite young students about entrepreneurship.”

Training Future Teachers

Also commenting today, Fiona McKeon, CEO of BizWorld Ireland, said: “The beauty of our partnership with MIC is that we’re not just delivering additional workshops in primary schools now; we’re also training future teachers in how to foster a culture of entrepreneurship in the classroom on an ongoing basis.

“The Irish education system has not traditionally offered business programmes at primary level, and we’re delighted that steps are being taken to address this issue.  Our education system must not only support young people to acquire the skills employers need; it must also equip them with the skills to become employers themselves.”

Speaking at the launch, Professor Michael A. Hayes, President of MIC, said: “Building creativity, innovation, problem-solving and risk-taking at all levels of education is necessary for our economic future.  Indeed, the recently launched Mid West Regional Action Plan for Jobs acknowledges the important role education can play in promoting and encouraging an entrepreneurial mind-set at primary and second level.

“This partnership between MIC and BizWorld is a wonderful means of fostering a culture of entrepreneurship in primary school children in a fun and informative way, empowering them to learn about enterprise in addition to facilitating the development of many lifelong learning skills that the children may then apply in a variety of different situations throughout their life”.

Fifty MIC students will be trained on the programme his year and will begin delivering BizWorld workshops in early 2016.