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NCB gives big bucks for CSEC

Published:Wednesday | December 1, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Sheree Martin, chief executive officer of the National Commercial Bank (NCB) Foundation, hands over a cheque valued at more than $8 million to Sharon Burnett (second left) of the Overseas Examination Commission. This cheque represents payments for the 2011 CXC/CSEC principles of business (POB) and principles of accounts (POA) examination fees. Sharing in the occasion are (from left) Clement Radcliffe, deputy chief education officer, Ministry of Education; Shandly Blair, fifth-form student, St George's College; Margaret Campbell, principal, St George's College; Shadiki Sandhurston, fifth-form student, St George's College; and Donna Solomon, manager, NCB Windward Road. St George's College represented the more than 4,500 students who will stand to benefit from the NCB Foundation CXC/CSEC POB & POA Fee Sponsorship initiative. - Contributed

THE National Commercial Bank Foundation has paid out $8.8 million for 4,516 students to sit the upcoming exams free of cost.

The contribution is aimed at easing the financial burdens of students paying for their CXC/CSEC principles of accounts (POA) and principles of business (POB) subjects. It is viewed as part of National Commercial Bank's (NCB) contribution to national development.

"At NCB, we are extremely committed to nation building and proud that we have the opportunity to financially give back to students, while creating an ideal partnership with the Ministry of Education to ensure that they are able to further their educational pursuits," Sheree Martin, CEO of NCB, said in a press statement yesterday.

Added Martin: "We believe in the potential of our nation's youth, and for this reason we are always willing to invest in their future so that they can grow into responsible citizens of Jamaica."

In 2003, the NCB Foundation established its CXC/CSEC POA and POB Fee Sponsorship programme to assist students at the secondary level in meeting the minimum qualification requirement for entry to a tertiary institution. Since the programme began, NCB Foundation has donated more than $60 million, which has funded 62,000 student entries.

Over the years, there has been increased use of this programme by schools islandwide, as students, teachers and the Overseas Examination Commission work together to ensure the viability of the programme through the success of the increased sit rate, as well as subject passes.

Last year, the foundation paid out $8.5 million to subsidise exam fees for 4,484 student entries

The programme has set criteria and, therefore, schools are expected to have a 90 per cent sit rate in the respective subject areas. Students' averages in both subject areas must be 70 per cent and higher.