Accra, June 11 GNA- Mr Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, Minister of Education, Youth and Sport on Friday pledged government 's support for organizations that would initiate insurance schemes aimed at helping students own their businesses after school.

"We support an NGO like the Junior Achievers Trust International (JATI), which is to reach-out to about 200,000 students to learn to manage risk and investment.

"Our position in the world economy depends directly on our nation's ability to prepare tomorrow's workforce." Mr Baah-Wiredu, whose speech was read by the Reverend Ama Afo Blay, Director General of Ghana Education Service, said this at the launch of the Student Insurance Scheme (SIS) by (JATI) in partnership with CDH Insurance Company in Accra.

The scheme, which is the first of its kind, is to equip young and deprived students with the necessary skills to enable them to start their own business.

Mr Baah-Wiredu said lack of economic opportunities in many developing countries was often the root cause of hunger, disease and insecurity.

He called for wealth creation through the active participation of the private sector so as to provide opportunities for everyone. "The best way to avoid poverty in society is to teach people at an early age to develop a capacity to earn a living on their own. "Rather than leaving people to become poor and later giving them food aid," he said.

The Minister called on students and parents to take advantage of the project and contribute to the wealth creation for national development. Mr. Paul C. Yeboah, Chief Executive Officer of JATI, said the project would offer students the opportunity to understand the subject of insurance, and introduce them to a variety of insurance packages on the market.

He noted that the scheme also sought to raise the awareness of educational authorities on the need to insure all students and school properties so as not wait for funds from Government to undertake repairs of destroyed property.

Mr Yeboah said students would also be encouraged to take life and accident policies whilst in school after they had been made aware of such insurance policies.

Schools present at the launch included Aburi Girls Secondary, Accra Girls Secondary School, Presbyterian Boys Secondary and Methodist Day Secondary School.