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There has been a call for more focus on entrepreneurial education within the school syllabus, to help aid the continued recovery of the Irish economy. Photo: iStock

By Lisa O’Donnell

The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (ISME) have called on the Government to include entrepreneurial education in the school syllabus, in order to promote an enterprise culture in Ireland.

In congratulating the class of 2014 on their Leaving Cert results, the Association called on teachers and policy-makers to encourage students to consider starting their own business, rather than simply focusing on attaining employment.

“Enterprise education must be introduced at primary school level and promoted throughout the education cycle and starting your own business should be presented as a viable, and attractive, alternative,” said Mark Fielding, ISME CEO.

He added that there needs to be more focus on entrepreneurship if the Irish economy is going to recover.

REGENERATION

“While the perennial cry from big business lobbyists is for more maths and science in schools, to satisfy their multinational masters, the importance of entrepreneurship in the regeneration of the Irish economy is not to be overlooked,” he said.

According to the Association, college alternatives such as apprenticeships and traineeships need to be promoted to aid our economy as it begins to improve.

“There is currently a serious shortage of apprentices and Government has been negligent in addressing this issue,” Mr Fielding said. “The result is that as the economy experiences a lift, we are seeing employers struggle to find suitably qualified staff. This situation will deteriorate if preventative measures are not taken.”

The Association are also urging school-leavers to consider a career within the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector, as these businesses offer opportunities for mentoring, hands-on experience and work variety that do not exist in the regimented, bureaucratic world of big business.

“SME staff have much greater scope to make their mark and to have their ideas heard and talents utilised than their counterparts in large corporates, who often are little more than a number to management,” concluded Mr Fielding.

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