A STEP HIGHER: DOING MORE TO UPGRADE SKILLS, IMPROVE LIVES

_Contestants

_Coaches

_{School Principals and Administrators}

_{Division and Regional Education Supervisors}

_{Ladies and Gentlemen}

_{Good Evening!}

Speech of Dir. Joey G. Pelaez during the 4th Teen Negosyo

CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELF,

PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHERS

(Speech of DepED-CSCA Executive Director Joey G. Pelaez during the Orientation Program of the Teen Negosyo University, Teachers Camp, Baguio City, 26 July 2009)

When we set forth for the Department of Education in 1995 and organized what is now the Center for Students and Co-Curricular Affairs, we set our sights on entrepreneurship as our first foray into real and serious program implementation. Barely one year in the office, we conceptualized the Youth Entrepreneurship and Cooperativism in Schools Program or YECS in 1996 and started its implementation in 1997, making it our long and running program so far, indicating also our equally long and running commitment to entrepreneurship education and learning.