Junior Achievement (Young Enterprise) Malta has launched a new entrepreneurship programme at primary school level. The programme, Our Nation, is one of six sequential programmes which help foster in pupils those personal qualities such as creativity, spirit of initiative and independence that contribute to the development of an entrepreneurial attitude, which will prove useful in their life and in every working activity. By using storybooks, role playing, field trips, fun activities and technology, students are introduced to business terms and concepts which provide them with a sound background of enterprise suitable for their age.

Dr Karl Briffa, vice chairman of Junior Achievement (Young Enterprise) Malta, who addressed a press launch conference, stated that this is the culmination of discussions with the Department of Education and Parliamentary Secretariat for Small Businesses and Self-Employed. By virtue of its membership in a global organisation with members in over 140 countries, Junior Achievement (Young Enterprise) Malta ensured that students in Malta benefit from such programmes which are already implemented around Europe and the world.

Our Nation will be delivered as a pilot project in six schools around Malta and Gozo namely Mellieha, Mosta, Msida, Qormi, Kalkara and Ghajnsielem.

Karl Gouder, chief executive officer said that in the past weeks Junior Achievement (Young Enterprise) Malta was busy localising the programme following a report by education officers within the Department of Education which screened the UK version of the programme and mapped it with the local curriculum. The next step is to receive feedback from teachers and students to fine-tune the programme in order to implement it by the next scholastic year.