Several junior cooperators and teacher guides have been recognised for their financial achievement through the Schools’ Co-operative Movement.{{more}}

The students were presented with awards on Tuesday, October 19, at the Peace Memorial Hall during the 2010 National Schools’ Co-operative Award Ceremony, held as part of the World Credit Union Week.

The event was staged by the Ministry of National Mobilization Co-operative Department in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the St.Vincent and the Grenadines Co-operative Credit Union League, and its affiliates (GECCU, KCCU, BCCU, SVUTCCU).

Eli Francis, Director of Social Development, said that the schools’ cooperative programme continues to play a vital role in shaping the financial culture of the nation’s children, as it continues to provide an avenue for students to save.

Francis said that the co-operative division recognises the value of its philosophy which is more than just thrift. He outlined that it is about building and making collective networks and socio-economic platforms for future advancement of students.

The director is of the view that thrift will remain central to the growth and development of the schools’ co-operative programme. He said against this backdrop the co-operative department remains committed and supportive of any effort that will bring growth and development to the subsector.

Francis said as the department seeks to have all schools’ co-operatives functioning effectively, efforts will be made during this academic year to implement management committees in all schools.

He observed that this would enhance the operation of the co-operatives greatly, as it seeks to teach the co-operative philosophy to principals, teachers and to the young cooperators.

Junior Bacchus, President of the St.Vincent and the Grenadines Co-operative Credit Union League, thanked the department of co-operatives for the excellent work they continue to do in aiding young people to save, which is important to guarantee the continued growth of the movement here in this country.

He said that he is happy to see that even the small credit unions are leading the way in encouraging the youths to save.

Bacchus said the credit union movement started in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 1958.

He urged students who have not enrolled in the programme to become a part of it.

Mike Browne, Minister of National Mobilization, said that it is a dignified honour to participate in a national schools’ co-operative ceremony.

Browne noted that this annual event, which started four years ago, had its genesis in the co-operative department of the Ministry of National Mobilization. The schools’ co-operative programme has been in existence for over 30 years.

He commended all stakeholders who have contributed over the years. Minister Browne disclosed that there are 87 schools participating in the schools’ co-operatives, with a total saving of $630,000 as of July this year.

He urged more education institutions to get involved with the schools’ co-operative programme. He said in addition to the thrift component there is the school agri-business project, targeting 15 schools. He said this will be operational over the next 12 months.

Browne disclosed that by the end of this month two schools will be operational in the rearing of chickens. He said that the GECCU has contributed over $15,000 towards the implementation of this project.