Entrepreneurship in Schools: Less Leavers Will Look for Scarce Jobs – Joe Issa

A Story by Sally Shiv

First it was Civics. Now, Entrepreneurship studies is to enter the curriculum in Jamaican schools, a move hailed by Joe Issa, as having the potential to change the way education is viewed and how it i

First it was Civics. Now, Entrepreneurship studies is to enter the curriculum in Jamaican schools, a move hailed by Joe Issa, as having the potential to change the way education is viewed and how it is used after school life �" to employ or be employed.

“The introduction of entrepreneurship in the schools’ curriculum is a long awaited move that has the potential to revolutionize the way we view a school education, in terms of its ultimate utility value: to help find a job or to help create jobs,” says Issa, founder of the popular Cool Group of companies that are being leveraged globally.

Issa, a multi-award winning entrepreneur, was reacting to news that Entrepreneurship is to be introduced at all levels of the education system as part of the schools’ curriculum, stating that it is important to start it at an early age in order to build the foundation and momentum at the higher levels.

“For too long we have prepared school children strictly for the job market, which has been shrinking over many years because of lack of economic growth. By introducing entrepreneurship we are giving, maybe half of all school leavers an alternative source of earning an income, such as going into business.

“This means we will get two bites of the cherry: Firstly, we will have created the next generation of Jamaican entrepreneurs, not only to continue and build on the business landscape, but to modernize processes to international best practices. Secondly, with about half of school leavers going into business, this will not only reduce the competition for scarce jobs, but will add new jobs to the market,” Issa says.

Pointing out the importance of maintaining the highest standard of education in schools, Issa says, “We should continue to emphasize preparation for matriculation to higher education or top entry level jobs, both of which have been known to be used as a stepping stone for entry into business.”

Noting that the move also has the potential of unlocking investments, Issa says, “There is a saying that there is always more money than there are good projects, which means that if you have a good project, you will find the money to fund it, either from the bank, the government’s support fund to assist the growth of the small and medium size business sector, or private investors.”