OVER 13,000 students sitting business and accounts CXC exams have had their fees paid by National Commercial Bank, under its education initiative programme.
The bill for the students to sit principles of business and principles of accounts amounts to $14.36 million.
The funds were handed over to Professor Neville Ying, chairman of the Overseas Examinations Office, as payment for the subjects at a press conference yesterday at the bank's headquarters on Trafalgar Road, Kingston, by co-ordinator of the NCB Jamaica Education Initiative (JEI), Pamela Harrison.
Of the combined 13,056 entries to do the two exams, the majority were from the public school system, while 345 were private school enrollees.
Their sponsorship was part of a commitment made by the JEI.
Minister of Education, Maxine Henry-Wilson, described NCB's education commitment as a complement to the Government's. Since last year, the Government has spent $53 million as payment for 25,000 students to sit the four CXC subjects, the Minister said, in fulfilment of a promise made in the run-up to last year's general election.
The JEI, launched in May, pledged $150 million towards the development of Jamaica's education at all levels. This funding is being accumulated from one per cent of all Key Card sales, a credit card offered by the bank.
The programme since its introduction eight months ago has raised approximately $16 million from the Key Card sales, has donated 570 computers to schools, libraries and charitable institutions, as well as books and school supplies, and awarded scholarships and grants to students at three tertiary institutions.
The programme also has a motivational and developmental component which goes into effect next month.
Between December and April, JEI will be undertaking islandwide teacher training programmes aimed at sharpening the teaching and marking skills in preparation for the exams in June.
There is also a component for student and parents that include motivational talks and the promotion of healthy lifestyles among students.
Professor Ying - while applauding the project and government for removing the added pressure of fees, allowing students to give total commitment to their studies - said he hoped it would translate into better CXC performances.
