St Mary's DSG

Eco School

Community

Enterprise Education

Environmentals

Aims of our Programme:

	to produce enterprising individuals
	to develop enterprising members of the community
	to promote economic literacy
	to enable pupils to plan and set up their own small businesses
	to awaken financial literacy
	to paint a realistic picture of the job market

The Programme

Enterprise Education at St Mary’s begins in Grade 1 and finishes in Grade 12. Throughout the school we have developed various exercises and activities to enhance skills that will produce enterprising individuals in subjects such as Economics and Management Science (EMS) and Life Orientation (LO) which are in line with the new curriculum including:

	problem-solving
	critical and creative thinking
	organisational skills
	time management
	ability to take initiative
	questioning of statements and decisions
	reviewing of work and learning from mistakes
	flexibility of both thought and action
	taking calculated risks
	managing resources and identifying needs

Financial literacy is an area which is growing.
The enterprise team has become aware of the importance of educating our girls in this direction because of changes in the job market re contracts, retirement planning, investments and medical aid. It is imperative that pupils are financially literate when they enter the job market.

Our Programme in the High School:

Grade 8 EMS

Personal finance (budgeting, banking, savings and investments, spreadsheets
The Economy (systems and problems)
South Africa: The national budget and the economy
Economic Growth in South Africa
Entrepreneurship (small businesses)
Bookkeeping (spreadsheets, cash journals)

Below are scenes from the Entrepreneurship Project: Market Day!

Grade 9 EMS

The Economy (flow of money, supply & demand, foreign trade, productivity)
Basic Bookkeeping (retail and service businesses)
Entrepreneurship

Grade 10 LO

Employment: Look at jobs and the job market.
Self-employment: Plan a small business. If it is feasible, learners are encouraged to continue with the business. All learners are given a “How to plan a business” brochure. A small business competition is held. A formal business plan is written.

Grade 11 LO

In order to paint a realistic picture of the job market, we use Junior Achiever’s “Opportunities Out There” module. Two days are spent looking at the trends in the job market. Various experts address the girls on the different types of jobs that are available and the skills needed for the jobs. The girls are taught how to apply for jobs and draw up CV’s. Write a CV and do a basic career assessment.
Two days Work Experience is organised by the girls after this module is completed.

Grade 12 LO

Tertiary Institution Presentations
Look at study programmes locally and overseas.