The Department of Education’s Career Pathways Programme has introduced a General Insurance Certification funded by the insurance industry.

Education Minister Grant Gibbons said yesterday that since January, the Bermuda Insurance Institute had recruited seven students from both Berkeley Institute and CedarBridge Academy to enrol in the General Insurance Certification Programme.

“Students who successfully complete this certification will achieve an Associate in General Insurance (AINS) designation by the time they graduate from senior school in June 2015,” Dr Gibbons said.

“Bermuda Insurance Institute CEO, Dr Dawnnelle Walker, and members of the Institute have developed a rigorous three-tiered programme. Initially, the students are involved in a six-week segment that introduces them to the insurance industry. In the second, five-week tier of the certification programme, which they have almost completed, they have worked with industry partners. During the third tier, students will prepare to sit exams for the general insurance certification. The three areas of concentrated study are commercial, property and personal insurance.

“We are grateful to the seven insurance-industry partners who are working with our students in the programme. They are Abby Clifford from BF&M; Damien Pitcher from Freisenbruch Meyer; Crystal Clay from Ace; Shirley Fountain from Endurance; Gail Miller from Oil Insurance; Brenda Tatem from Ariel Re; and Richard Winchell from ABIC [the Association of Bermuda International Companies].

“Our industry partners are not only contributing their time and experience to assist students in preparing for the insurance exams, but they are also underwriting the cost of the exams — with no expense to parents or the Department of Education.”

Dr Gibbons said the Career Pathways Programme was launched during the 2012-2013 academic school year in Bermuda’s two public senior schools — The Berkeley Institute and CedarBridge Academy.

The programme provides S3 and S4 senior school students with the opportunity to develop academic, technical and workplace skills in preparation for life beyond the classroom. There are five different areas of exploration within the programme: college preparatory courses, applied technology, business and hospitality, health and human services, and athletics, arts and communication.

“The goals of the programme are to provide learning opportunities through real-world work experiences; to provide students with advanced college preparatory courses; and to foster the development of professionalism, accountability, interpersonal communication and networking skills,” Dr Gibbons said.

Presently within Career Pathways, there are four certification programmes. They include the Nurses Aid Certification managed by Bermuda College; an automotive certification through the National Training Board via Noble Auto; the City & Guilds Employability Skills course managed by Bermuda College; and most recently, the BII’s General Insurance Certification.

Dr Gibbons added that Career Pathways has almost 50 industry partners involved, including eight Government Ministries. There are approximately 259 students who are participating in a work or career-related experience.