Monthly Archives: October 2025

Expert Highlights Critical Gaps as Awareness Grows Around ‘Get Smart About Credit Day’

The JN Foundation is urging Jamaicans to seek opportunities to raise their financial literacy and improve their money habits, especially around credit management.

The emphasis on credit management aligns with the broader goals of ‘Get Smart About Credit Day’, being observed on October 16 this year. The annual observance, launched in 2003 by the American Bankers Association Education Foundation, aims to promote responsible use of credit among young people and raise the level of financial education. This awareness will promote how informed financial decisions can lead to long-term stability. ‘Get Smart About Credit Day’ is celebrated on the third Thursday in October every year.

Rose Miller, financial education consultant with the JN Foundation, said the day is critical for Jamaica. She said many individuals and small businesses still struggle to understand how credit works, which contributes to the country’s overall low financial literacy rate. She stressed that this gap in knowledge often results in poor financial decisions and negative consequences.

“We want to ensure that the financial education of our nation is moving to another level,” she said. “We are still too far down on the financial literacy bar. We need to get the gauge up to a much higher level as our survival as families and as a nation depends on our ability to utilise not only credit but the other tools like budgeting, savings, investments and even insurance, to get to another place financially.”

Financial literacy in Jamaica has consistently been low. In 2015, the S&P Global Financial Literacy Survey’s report ‘Financial Literacy Around the World’ found that only 33 per cent of adult Jamaicans were financially literate. More recently, the 2022 ‘Financial Literacy Baseline Survey,’ conducted by the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ), revealed that the same proportion of youth aged 12–19 were financially literate, highlighting a persistent gap in financial knowledge across generations.

Mrs Miller said while the JN Foundation has been working to increase financial literacy among Jamaicans through initiatives such as the JN Financial Academy, collective effort, ongoing education and public awareness are key to narrowing the gap.

“You won’t see any impact if you just sit back and do nothing. You must take action. One of the things we also emphasise is to bring someone else along with you on the education journey – a

family member, a child, a spouse – so that as you increase your own knowledge, you also share it with those in your sphere. That’s how real progress happens,” she said.

As part of this year’s observance of ‘Get Smart About Credit Day’, the Foundation, through the JN Financial Academy, has organised a free Smarter Credit Day Workshop for October 16 to help individuals strengthen their credit habits and deepen their understanding of credit reports and scores. The workshop, which features presentations from two of Jamaica’s credit bureaus and personal testimonials from individuals successfully building and repairing their credit, was designed to empower participants with practical knowledge to achieve long-term financial stability.

Mrs Miller noted that the initiative builds on the JN Financial Academy’s Smarter Credit Course, which has successfully facilitated three cohorts to date.

“We designed the workshop so that participants leave with the knowledge they need to access and use credit in ways that benefit them, including an understanding of the five Cs of credit -character, capacity, capital, collateral and conditions – which collectively help to assess whether a borrower can use credit wisely and repay responsibly,” she said. “It’s all about empowerment and education because we want our Jamaican people to be really smart about their money,” she concluded.

Photo Caption: Deandré Fowler, a first form student at Hampton School

With an insatiable appetite for reading, 12-year-old Deandré Fowler, a first-form student at Hampton School in St Elizabeth, would spend her holidays at the parish library in Black River, immersing herself in books, particularly mysteries, that ignite her imagination.

“She’s always reading,” said Jeneive Weathers, Deandré’s Grade Six teacher at the Black River Primary and Infant School.  “She read all the books in her class and would go to the other classes, borrow the books from the teachers and read them,” she related adding that Deandré would lament that the children were not reading the books.

Deandré’s stepfather, Maurice Mullings, a fixed asset officer at the Black River Hospital and an avid reader himself, shared that he and Deandré’s mother were intentional about nurturing her love for books from an early age.

“I’ve always encouraged her to read.  She always sees me reading. I’ve always told her that being well read will help her in every aspect of life.  There’s this 10-book series that I’m trying to get her to read by Steve Erickson.  Each book is around 1000 pages.  I’ve gone as far as getting apps on her phone where I can download ebooks for her to read,” he said.

“She has been with me since she was two years old and she has really been exceptionally bright.  She was reading long before her peers.  Her mother did a lot of work where that is concerned.  She had to be held back in grades because of her age.”

Mr Mullings is confident that Deandré’s commitment to reading laid the foundation for her academic success. That dedication bore fruit when she emerged as the overall top student in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) at her former school, achieving a placement score of 382.7. Her outstanding performance earned her a five-year scholarship from the JN Foundation and she was named the 2025 JN Foundation Parish Scholar for St Elizabeth.

Deandré is pleased that her hard work has been paid off with a scholarship award.  She recalled that she was talking with a friend on the phone when her mother broke the news to her. She was initially in disbelief.

“I kept asking her, ‘are you sure?’ and I hugged her and started jumping.  I was very happy,” she said adding that she immediately called her stepfather to relay the good news.

A total of 37 students were awarded five-year scholarships by the JN Foundation Fourteen recipients are parish scholars; three, JN Bank Easi-Save County scholars; and, 20 are children of JN Group employees who gained the Building Excellence and Achieving More Success (BEAMS) scholarship for attaining a placement score of at least 320. An additional 10 students were presented with one-time grants by JN Money Services.

Deandré’s mother, Dacia Foskin, a cashier supervisor at Intown Supercentre in Black River, was at work when she received the email advising her of the  scholarship award. Overwhelmed with joy, she could not contain her excitement.

“I just lost myself, for I was so happy. I started running up and down and screaming. I was so excited,” she recalled, adding that given Deandré’s stellar PEP performance, she had been hopeful a scholarship would come her way.

The scholarship award was no surprise to Deandré’s grade six teacher, who encouraged Deandré’s mother to apply for scholarships.

“I know she would have gotten it. Deandré was an excellent student.  She doesn’t work on any haste.  She takes her time and makes sure that her answers are ok.  When she comes to me, everything is ok and there’s no correction. She was one of the best students that I have ever had,” said Ms Weathers.

Deandré related that she prepared for PEP by attending extra classes at school Mondays to Thursdays and for four hours on Saturdays. She always ensured that homework is done, she read over her notes and sought help from her teacher when she didn’t understand something.  She also practised with worksheets she accessed online and went through past papers.

Now settled into her new school, Deandré has adjusted with ease and is already looking forward to exploring new opportunities beyond the classroom. She is eager to join several clubs, including Key Club and the Journalism Club, while also considering activities such as chess, photography, and even crochet.

She provides advice to other children preparing for PEP so they can achieve similar success as her.

“Set goals. Never be discouraged and try your best to achieve those goals,” she said.

A middle child, Deandré has two sisters.  She is indecisive about her career path but is leaning towards become a doctor.

Since the inception of the JN Scholarship Programme in 1983, close to 1,000 students have benefitted from financial assistance to pursue their secondary education.

For 12-year-old Kiyana Hayles, receiving a JN Foundation Scholarship was both a surprise and a source of immense pride. The St Mary native, now a first-form student at St Hilda’s Diocesan High School, admitted she had almost given up hope of being chosen.

“I didn’t think that I would get it,” she said explaining that a period of time had passed since her mother submitted the application hence, she doubted that she was selected.

She recalled being in her room when her mother delivered the news to her and the sense of accomplishment she experienced.

“I was happy. It makes me feel excited and proud of myself, because I know that most persons when they apply for scholarships, they don’t get it,” she shared.

The scholarship, which will provide support for five years, was equally welcome news for her mother, Dawn Martin, who operates a food café in Galina, St Mary.

“I am so elated, I’m so grateful because sometimes it’s really hard so that will come in really handy,” she said adding that based on her daughter’s performance in the PEP, she knew she stood a good chance of getting the scholarship.  She related that it was a cousin of hers who shared the scholarship applications details with her and encouraged her to apply.

In addition to the scholarship award to Kiyana, the JN Foundation awarded five-year scholarships to 36 other students. Fourteen recipients are parish scholars; three, JN Bank Easi-Save County scholars; and 20 are children of JN Group employees who gained the Building Excellence and Achieving More Success (BEAMS) scholarship for attaining a placement score of at least 320. An additional 10 students were presented with one-time grants by JN Money Services.

With 603 applications received online this year, the JN Foundation Scholarship remains one of the most competitive awards. The students and/or their parents are required to be a JN member, customer, or client of The Jamaica National Group for at least one year to be eligible for the scholarship award.

Kiyana’s teacher, Shurdan Anderson, said she had expected Kiyana’s scholarship and that Kiyana had always been an outstanding student.

“From grade one right up to grade six, she is always first place. Words cannot explain how proud I am of her,” Ms Anderson disclosed.  “She was someone who you could depend on. Homework, projects, assignments, and academic work were always done.”

Ms Anderson also pointed out that she was confident that Kiyana would have done well in the PEP that when Kiyana’s mother was in the process of choosing schools, she and another teacher encouraged her to select St Hilda’s.

Academically, Kiyana has always been a standout. A former head girl, she emerged the overall top performer in PEP and earned the Principal’s Award.  She was also the valedictorian of her graduating class.

She attributes her academic success to discipline and preparation. Her advice to students preparing for the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exams is simple but impactful.

“Make sure you focus in school; take proper notes, study when you get home, and don’t use your devices often because they can be a distraction.”

Kiyana has quickly adapted to her new environment. She particularly admires her teachers and appreciates the discipline at the school. Although not yet a member of a club, she hopes to join the 4-H and Art Clubs, driven by her budding passion for drawing.

Her daily routine, however, is not without sacrifice. Every morning, she rises at 4:00 a.m. to prepare for her journey, which involves taking two buses to get to school. Despite the early start, Kiyana remains enthusiastic.

“Sometimes I feel tired, but it doesn’t last. I look forward to school,” she said.

Outside of schoolwork, Kiyana enjoys reading and drawing. She often receives books as gifts especially from her aunt and sometimes reads online. A voracious reader, she sometimes goes through books twice a day, underscoring her love for stories of all genres.

Looking to the future, Kiyana has set her sights on medicine, aspiring to become a paediatrician.

“I would like to help children,” she said, noting that she would be the first doctor in her family. Guided by the Bible scripture in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” Kiyana believes that determination will carry her toward her dream.

Since the inception of the JN Scholarship Programme in 1983, close to 1,000 students have benefitted from financial assistance to pursue their secondary education.