JIS: The National Commercial Bank (NCB) Foundation is to increase the number of subjects it pays for qualifying students sitting the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations for the academic year 2018/19.

 

The Foundation currently pays in full for CSEC Principles of Accounts (POA) and Principles of Business (POB) examination fees, for students at the secondary level.

 

Director, NCB Foundation, Stuart Reid, said that based on the organisation’s strategic focus, collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, and the need to support new and emerging career opportunities, the Foundation has revised the programme.

 

The Director was speaking at the NCB Foundation CSEC National Bursary Programme’s handover ceremony, held at Jamaica College on October 17, where the bank electronically transferred $13.9 million to the Overseas Examinations Commission’s account to cover the cost incurred for the 3,334 students from government-approved public and private schools who sat POA and POB in June.

 

He informed that for this academic year, the organisation will support Information Technology (IT) and two other non-traditional subjects.

 

“Going forward, we will review the changing demands of respective industries and offer support in subjects that align. The future of Jamaica lies in the minds and hands of its youth, thus we cannot have a better Jamaica without first doing everything in our power to empower the next generation to maximise their talents,” he said.

 

Under the programme, the entity allows qualified secondary-level students to sit these two business subjects free of cost. This helps them to meet the minimum number of five subjects required for entry to a tertiary institution.

 

For his part, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Dean-Roy Bernard, welcomed the Foundation’s changes to the programme.

 

“We are grateful to NCB for this partnership in supporting our students, especially those who want to take advantage of the new opportunities,” Mr. Bernard said.

 

He also lauded NCB Foundation’s commitment in helping to ensure that students who demonstrate financial need and are excelling academically are able to benefit from this programme.

 

Overall, the Foundation has invested in excess of $141 million in the programme, impacting the lives of more than 100,000 students.

 

CAPTION: Chair, National Commercial Bank (NCB) Foundation, Thalia Lyn (second right), transfers $13.9 million to the Overseas Examinations Commission’s (OEC) account to cover the cost incurred for the 3,334 students from government-approved public and private schools who sat Principles of Account and Principles of Business in June. Observing (from left) are Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Dean-Roy Bernard; Executive Director, OEC, Hector Stephenson; Director, NCB Foundation, Stuart Reid; Jamaica College student, Travell Thompson; Norman Manley High School student, Keisia Jackson; and Jamaica College student, David McKenzie. They were at the Foundation’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) National Bursary Programme’s handover ceremony, held at Jamaica College on October 17.