MCGRATH High in Linstead, St Catherine, one of six ruralbased high schools under the Centres of Excellence programme, recently staged a Career Expo and Open Day to expose students to a range of post-secondary options and showcase students’ entrepreneurial skills.

The high school students received information on programmes offered by tertiary institutions such as the University of the West Indies, Mona; the Mico University College; the University College of the Caribbean; the College of Agricultural Science and Education and the Portmore Community College, among others. The students also received information on financial products, services and scholarships offered by The Victoria Mutual Building Society and the Jamaica National Building Society and other financial institutions.

Speakers at the Expo included Custos for the parish of St Catherine, Sophia Azan; acclaimed storyteller and Director of Culture in Education in the Ministry of Education, Amina Blackwood-Meeks, who delivered the main presentation; and Cathy Rattray, project officer at the Mutual Building Societies Foundation (MBSF).

The MBSF was formed by VMBS and JNBS to manage the Centres of Excellence programme. The programme, which is funded equally by the building societies for $100 million over a five-year period, seeks to transform education delivery and performance in the six rural high schools including McGrath High.