Business brought to school through award winning JEP

FIFTH and sixth class pupils in schools around New Ross are being urged to participate in the Junior Entrepreneur Programme (JEP) which brings their existing curriculum and the world of business together in a fun environment.

Schools in New Ross are being given the chance to become involved in an award winning programme, where pupils will be mentored by business people from their own communities who are willing to share their expertise.

The programme brings entrepreneurship into primary schools and will help fifth and sixth class students develop existing skills such as literacy, but also learn new skills like technology, problem solving and creative thinking.

Children from Monaseed National School, Boolavogue National School and Glenbrien National School were among those who took part last year.

About 40,000 children have participated in the programme since its inception in 2010. It has been developed and supported by entrepreneur Jerry Kennelly and some of Ireland’s other leading entrepreneurs.

The JEP is free of charge to all pupils and is a 12 to 16 week course, which will help them learn and develop their business skills in collaboration with their classmates.

The children involved in the programme during the last school year created businesses that generated total sales of over €320,000 and profits of almost €230,000.

Applications are currently being accepted for the next Junior Entrepreneur Programme, which will start in schools in September.

Further details are available on www.juniorentrepreneur.ie or by contacting the JEP office on 066 7169553.