Northsiders help launch awards 

A NEW awards scheme to showcase excellence in entrepreneurship education has been launched.

Details of the new scheme, which includes a prize fund of €10,000, were announced at a special event in The Marker Hotel, Dublin, to celebrate 100 years of Junior Achievement (JA). Children from Scoil Caitríona Cailíní, Coolock, attended the launch.  

The Entrepreneurial School Awards (TESA) will celebrate the hard work and achievements of primary and second level schools across the country which endeavour to develop entrepreneurial skills in students. 

Speaking at the announcement, Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh, said he was delighted to launch The Entrepreneurial School Awards with Junior Achievement Ireland.

“The awards are a great opportunity to shine a light on the innovative work done by schools in preparing our young people to achieve success in their lives and in the workplace of the future,” he said.

“The shape of the workplace a decade from now and what jobs people will be doing is difficult to imagine.

“What we do know is that we need to prepare our young people with entrepreneurial skills.  

“We need to equip young people with the confidence, adaptability and attitude required to prepare for such an unpredictable future."

Entrepreneurship education, as defined by the European Commission, covers all activities that seek to give individuals the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to achieve the goals they set for themselves to live a fulfilled life. 

Those skills include the ability to think positively, to identify opportunities, to have confidence in oneself as well as to set and achieve personal and professional goals.   

These skills are essential to preparing children for the future workplace and to achieve success in their lives after they finish school. Speaking on behalf of Junior Achievement Ireland, chief executive Helen Raftery said: “In our work with schools across Ireland, we see at first-hand the incredible work being done to prepare students to achieve success in their futures. 

“We are delighted that TESA will give us the opportunity to formally recognise that excellent work, as well as identifying an overall winner (TESA School of the Year), which will represent Ireland at the European Entrepreneurial School Awards in Helsinki in November. 

“We encourage all partner schools to share the details of their commitment to entrepreneurship education and join us at the summit in October to engage with other educators in this field.

“Of course, there is also a chance to be designated best-in-class.”

The call for submissions will issue to JAI partner schools in mid-February. For full details of the application process for TESA, visit www.jai.ie