The Business Skills Pass (BSP) is a qualification that certifies that students (14-16 years old), who have had a real entrepreneurship experience, hold the necessary knowledge, competences and skills to start a venture of their own or be successfully employed.

BSP includes a full-year in-school mini-company experience; an examination of business, economic and financial knowledge; the possibility to access further opportunities offered by small and large businesses, top higher institutions across Philippines.

Entrepreneurship education is one of the most important tools in the competitiveness strategy toolbox. It has a broad spectrum of positive impacts from helping people be more creative, opportunity-oriented, innovative and proactive all the way to increasing the likelihood someone will start a company later on. By tackling the issue of what skills students lack versus the skills that they need we can have an impact on the youth unemployment rates in Philippines.

This is the reason why the Business Skills Pass aims at providing as many young people as possible with the opportunity to have a practical entrepreneurial experience before they leave the secondary school

The Business Skills Pass Program in partnership with the JA Philippines (A member of JA Worldwide) global youth development seek with Partner Ernst and Young (EY) for support and address the fundamental issues to make our youth succeed in the global economy. With 100 years of developing the youth in more 123 countries, JA Business Skills Pass program will enable grade 11 to 12 students an opportunity to create their own business thru establishment of the mini companies. The program will start in grade 11 will expose to business plan training and competition with guidance of teachers and business mentors from EY Philippines. Successful completion of the business plan will give our young people (composed of 30 members per team in grade 12) an opportunity to create a mini company thru the JA Company program -JA Company Program encompasses business, entrepreneurship, and economics curriculum. The program emphasizes business content, while providing a strong focus on social studies, mathematics, reading, and writing skills. The JA Company Program experience enhances students’ classroom curriculum. Students are encouraged to use innovative thinking to learn business skills that support positive attitudes as they explore and enhance their career aspirations.

Through a variety of hands-on activities and technological supplements designed to support different learning styles, students develop a better understanding of the relationship between what they learn at school and their successful participation in a worldwide economy.

JA Company Program is a series of 3 meetings. The average time for each meeting is 2 hours. Extended learning opportunities were developed to enhance and expand core activities. JA Company Program provides interactive, take-home materials for students. Materials are packaged in a self-contained kit that includes detailed activity plans for the volunteer and enough materials for students.

All student companies will participate in the Philippines Company of the Year Competition.

All JA programs are designed to support the skills and competencies identified by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. These programs also augment school-based, work-based, and connecting activities for communities with school-to-work initiatives.

2020-2021 – Activities

JA Philippines in partnership with SGV tapped 300 grade 11 students from Pasig City Science High School and Quezon City Science High School for the JA Business Skills Pass Program: Business Planning Phase.

31 advisers participated and provided insights and evaluation for the student’s business plans.

There were 3 mentoring sessions: January 8, 2021, January 29, 2021 & February 19, 2021.

In the end of the sessions, the 18 mini companies were able to come up with business plans and will be implementing their respective business plans next school year.

January 29, 2021

Mr. Allan Ocho

‘Role of technology in business enterprises’

Keynote Speaker

Learning Objectives:

1. Familiarize with how technology can support and enable business enterprises.

2. Evaluate impact of technology trends to their business ventures

3. Understand the considerations when adopting technology in their Business Plans.

3 Mentoring Sessions were held. The students were able to improve their business plans through the help of SGV Volunteers

Students with SGV Volunteers

Testimonials from Students:

This letter serves as the embodiment of gratitude for all that you’ve taught us, our company couldn’t have progressed if you hadn’t given us the advice that we needed for the betterment of our business. Even if we didn’t have that much time, we would still like to reassure you that the wisdom you’ve imparted upon us has been – without a doubt – a great help that will support our career. When the day comes that we’ll be able to finally say, with pride, that our business was a success, we’d like you to remember how your contributions were one of the major reasons why we even managed to make it in the first place. you have inspired our company to pursue our ideals and goals without succumbing to defeat. You have become one of the motivations for us to overcome the hurdles that our business will surely face. Because of that, we want to make you proud. When, one day, you witness our success, we hope that it’ll bring a smile to your face, we hope that you’ll think “wow, they’ve surely come this far”.

– Pasig City Science High School Mini Company – Gaia

Codu Co. would like to give their thanks to the mentors, Ms. Lim Bok-Uyking, Ms. Cornell, Ms. Gonzales, and Mr. Garcia, for the time and knowledge imparted to us aspiring entrepreneurs. As we are still lacking in many aspects, especially in the marketing and financial department, we would like to express our gratitude towards both sets of mentors who tackled our queries and displayed their own strengths and different perspectives that will surely guide us in the pursuit of our business. Overall, this experience has been insightful and we will continue to work hard on this opportunity given to us.

– Quezon City Science High School Mini Company – CODU

I would like to thank you in behalf of the whole mini company for all the advice and tips you have given us. You helped us grow as we learn about things concerning business and finance that we didn’t know before, especially since we are STEM students. We will apply the knowledge we gained from you to further improve our business and connect more people in our society. We wish that we’ll be able to meet again in the near future. Have a nice year and stay safe. Thank you so much.

– Quezon City Science High School Mini Company – UNI

In the Philippines, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the number of unemployed Filipino youth accounts for more than half of the Philippines’ jobless sector. According to the Labor Force Survey (LFS) conducted by the Philippine Statistical Authority (PSA), almost 1.5 million Filipino youths who belong to the 18-24 age range are jobless. While youth unemployment decreased to 15.7 percent in April 2014 (from 16.8 percent in April 2013), it still accounts for more than half of the 2.9 million unemployed Filipinos in the country. As such, it can be construed that half of unemployment is likely to go down if youth unemployment is addressed. To address youth unemployment, there is a need to increase the employability of the youth by providing them access to technical and life skills training demanded by employers. Likewise, it is also imperative to harness the entrepreneurial propensity of the youth so that they too can contribute in creating job opportunities in the country.

The Business Skills Pass Program in partnership with the JA Philippines (A member of JA Worldwide) global youth development seek with Partner Ernst and Young (EY) for support and address the fundamental issues to make our youth succeed in the global economy. With 100 years of developing the youth in more 123 countries, JA Business Skills Pass program will enable grade 11 to 12 students an opportunity to create their own business thru establishment of the mini companies. The program will start in grade 11 will expose to business plan training and competition with guidance of teachers and business mentors from EY Philippines. Successful completion of the business plan will give our young people (composed of 30 members per team in grade 12) an opportunity to create a mini company thru the JA Company program -JA Company Program encompasses business, entrepreneurship, and economics curriculum. The program emphasizes business content, while providing a strong focus on social studies, mathematics, reading, and writing skills. The JA Company Program experience enhances students’ classroom curriculum. Students are encouraged to use innovative thinking to learn business skills that support positive attitudes as they explore and enhance their career aspirations.

Through a variety of hands-on activities and technological supplements designed to support different learning styles, students develop a better understanding of the relationship between what they learn at school and their successful participation in a worldwide economy.

JA Company Program is a series of 12 meetings. The average time for each meeting is 2 hours. Extended learning opportunities were developed to enhance and expand core activities. JA Company Program provides interactive, take-home materials for students. Materials are packaged in a self-contained kit that includes detailed activity plans for the volunteer and enough materials for students.

2020-2021 – Activities

JA Philippines in partnership with EY GDS tapped 150 grade 11 students from Pasig City Science High School and Quezon City Science High School for the JA Business Skills Pass Program: Business Planning Phase.

46 advisers participated and provided insights and evaluation for the student’s business plans.

There were 3 mentoring sessions: 2 sessions focused on the JA Be Entrepreneurial Modules and 1 session focused on Business Plan Reviews

In the end of the sessions, the 12 mini companies were able to come up with business plans and will be implementing their respective business plans next school year.