High school learners receive business master classes
Participants will learn to set saving goals, develop a bankable business plan, apply for grants and set up their business.
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE), in partnership with the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, is acting to stimulate entrepreneurship in young people across Gauteng high schools.
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The programme aims to stimulate entrepreneurship in young people, teaching youngsters the skills they need to start and run successful businesses and to reduce the record-high rate of unemployment in South Africa.
According to Chuma Siswana, the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre spokesperson, the Integrated Entrepreneurship programme will be rolled out across 18 Gauteng schools to turn budding entrepreneurs into employment creators of the future.
“The programme includes project-based entrepreneurial coaching where learners receive hands-on experience in running their own mini companies, financial literacy and professional life-skills training,” said Siswana.
Acting chief operations officer at Sci-Bono Discovery Centre Anele Davids said many young people don’t think of themselves as entrepreneurs, in spite of the fact that they are making pocket money by, for example, dressmaking, servising motor cars and braiding their friends’ hair.
“Yet, these are seeds of businesses that may well grow, flourish, provide an income for their founders and create jobs. The Integrated Entrepreneurship Programme is designed to turn budding entrepreneurs into the business leaders of tomorrow. It’s an investment in the future,” said Davids.
GDE and Sci-Bono are taking the JA Entrepreneurship multi-certification programme into select schools, where 1 230 Grade Eight to 11 learners will attend the programme as an extramural subject.
“The Integrated Entrepreneurship Programme is aligned with the GDE’s multi-certification strategy. It’s a component of the National Development Plan that aims to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030. The strategy promotes work-readiness programmes for young people, which are delivered through the department’s Schools of Specialisation, and it’s at 18 of these schools that Be Entrepreneurial is being offered to learners,” said Siswana
It’s important, Davids said, to encourage young people to think of themselves as entrepreneurs and employment creators, rather than jobseekers as we see these youngsters everywhere, in all our communities with latent potential who simply need formal entrepreneurial coaching to turn their talents and interests into a thriving business.
According to Siswana, the Integrated Entrepreneurship Programme is aligned with the GDE’s multi-certification strategy and it’s a component of the National Development Plan that aims to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030.
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