Various schools throughout Saint Vincent and the Grenadines received awards as the Coorporative Division within the Ministry of National Mobilisation, Social Development, Family, Gender Affairs, Persons with Disability and Youth hosted it's annual Awards and prize giving ceremony.
The awards and prize giving ceremony was held on October 9th, 2018, at the Peace Memorial Hall and commenced at 9 a.m. The session was cheered by Mr. Philcol Jeffers, Communications and Marketing officer within the Ministry of National Mobilisation.
Minister, Hon. Frederick .A. Stephenson, Permanent Secretary within the ministry, the Assistant Secretary and Chief Inspector of cooperatives were also present at the gathering. Parliamentary Secretary within the Ministry of Education was also among persons present along with representatives from the Taiwanese Technical Mission.
Among the schools currently involved in the thrift savings programme are:
52 primary schools;
23 secondary schools;
6 pre-schools.
The Georgetown Government School was the top school at this year's ceremony. The school won the most outstanding award for the fourth consecutive year. The students were congratulated for thier economic achievements and were encouraged to continue saving. The current savings amount is approximately $1.2 million dollars. The thrift savings programme is supervised by the talented and motivated staff of Cooperative Division within the Ministry of National Mobilisation etc.
One hundred and sixty-two students were awarded at this year's ceremony. This year marks thirty-nine years since the thrift savings programme has been in operation. There was notable growth during the period of September, 2017 - June, 2018, as there was an increase of $432,000.00 in the said period. There are three specific programmes under the thrift savings programme. They are:
1. Thrift Savings;
2. School Cooperative Agribusiness and;
3. Japan Climate Change programme.
The gathering was reminded that the thrift savings programme is a flag-ship for poverty alleviation. The key objectives of the programme include; 1. ensuring savings 2. economic development and 3. saving for specific purposes. During the period September, 2017, to June, 2018, there was a recorded total of 267 new members. It was also noted that there were 45 students with over $8000.00 saved.
The Ministry of National Mobilisation etc. is aiming to achieve the target of 100 schools during the current period of September, 2018, to June, 2019.
Retired Headteachers who were present received their awards of appreciation at the ceremony.
SOURCE: Information Technology Services Division (ITSD)
