This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Lessons in business for Orkney pupils
30/04/2004
Schools on the Orkney Islands are set to benefit from
new resources to support enterprising pupils keen to
develop their business know-how.
Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Jim
Wallace today announced that Orkney Islands Council will
receive £190,000 over two years through the Executive's £40
million Determined to Succeed (DtS) Strategy for Enterprise
in Education.
In addition, the authority will benefit from £49,000
Innovation Funding to assist in the delivery of its
Enterprise in Education plan.
Speaking during a visit to a Primary Schools Enterprise
Challenge in Kirkwall, Mr Wallace said:
"Enterprise in Education is focused on increasing
pupils' understanding of, and interest in, work and
enterprise. We want young people to enter the workplace
with the right mix of skills - together with the
self-confidence and drive to make the most of them.
"Schools in Orkney are already doing good work in this
area. For instance, Firth School has a successful
Enterprise / Eco-Schools Project which has allowed pupils
to learn traditional crafts. Pupils at North Ronaldsay
Primary School, too, have been learning entrepreneurial
skills through designing and selling their own greetings
cards and Tshirts.
"Today's funding will enable other Orkney schools to
build on this good practice. Additional resources from the
Executive's Innovation Fund will help provide video
conference facilities in the island's schools, enabling
pupils from the outer islands to engage with those on the
mainland and elsewhere."
Mr Wallace added:
"I announced earlier in the week the second funding
phase of £20.7 million for DtS, which is being rolled out
in the coming months to 22 local authorities, including
Orkney. Our total investment of £40 million in this
strategy - and the real impact it is having in schools -
shows the importance we place on fostering a culture of
enterprise in Scotland."
The Executive published its Determined to Succeed
strategy in March 2003. The Scottish Budget 2003-2006 has
allocated £40 million to support the strategy. A
Partnership for a Better Scotland states: "We will make
sure that every pupil has the opportunity to learn
entrepreneurial skills at school. We will expand the number
of Scottish schools involved in Enterprise in Education
from 10 per cent to 100 per cent."
Ten local authorities have received funding to date, and
£11.6 million has been allocated. A further £20.7 million
is being allocated in the second phase. Orkney Islands
Council are receiving £59,869 for 2004/05, and £131,120 for
2005/06.
The balance of the Executive's funding is to take
forward work with other stakeholders, including Learning
and Teaching Scotland and Careers Scotland.
The Innovation Fund was set up in 2003, as a key element
of the Executive's approach to implementing Determined to
Succeed. Local authorities may submit bids for funding to
support the development and delivery of innovative projects
that would not be included in their local Enterprise in
Education plans. Up to £1 million has been set aside for
the Fund, which will be in place to the end of March
2006.
Mr Wallace today attended the Primary Enterprise
Challenge in Kirkwall. Up to 80 young people aged nine to
11 took part in the one-day event, organised by the Schools
Enterprise Programme. This is managed locally by Careers
Scotland.