News from Welsh Labour

“Teach entrepreneurship in our schools” urges Labour AM

Wrexham’s Assembly Member, Lesley Griffiths, has urged the Welsh Assembly Government to change the schools curriculum in Wales to include the teaching of entrepreneurship.

The Labour AM believes Wales needs to have a “more flexible economic mix” between the public and private sector within its economy, in order for the country to adapt and respond more quickly to any future global economic crises.

Ms Griffiths wants to see greater integration of business teaching and entrepreneurship into the Welsh national schools curriculum to move the country away from its reliance on the public sector to provide employment.

During Questions to the First Minister, Lesley Griffiths told her National Assembly colleagues:

“Compared with other countries, Wales has a disproportionately large number of people reliant on the public sector for employment. As recent events have shown, Wales needs a more flexible economic mix if it is to cope with economic problems as they arise. One way of bringing about that change is actively to encourage young people to become Wales’ entrepreneurs of the future.

“For that to happen, we may need to revisit the Welsh curriculum and do more for young people through the education system to become the creative, dynamic and responsible driving forces that we need for our future prosperity.”

Commenting following her Question, Lesley Griffiths said she now wants to see a cultural change take place in Wales towards entrepreneurship – an approach that is relevant and forward looking:

“I believe there is an historical and understandable aversion within Wales in its attitude towards entrepreneurship. In 2010, however, this way of thinking is unsustainable and as a country we have to change that approach in order for innovation to flourish, jobs to be created and prosperity to return.

“Other countries have a far more positive and proactive approach towards business teaching and entrepreneurship in schools and I believe we should look closely at how we can embrace this in Wales too.

“The economic events of recent months have shown that we need to be considerably more adroit in how we construct our economy in the future. In order to do this, we will need to create the right conditions for the private sector to grow. For this to happen, we need to ensure business is taught in our schools to equip our children – the entrepreneurs of the future – with the skills they will require.”

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