Secondary School Entrepreneurship Competition Will Open
The tenth edition of the international business program launches on October 6 to foster student leadership.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Secondary Education
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The National Secondary School Entrepreneurship Competition will open its tenth edition on October 6, 2026. This long-running program prepares students for real-world business challenges through virtual simulations.
Why it matters
The initiative aims to build business ambition and professional capability in students by providing practical training. It has expanded internationally, recently launching in the Dominican Republic in March 2026.
The program has provided 50,000 hours of training to 5,000 students across 128 schools. In 2025, 28 percent of participants reached the top 10 percent globally in business simulations.
The players
Shell Trinidad and Tobago
This energy company has served as the premier sponsor of the competition since 2017.
The details
Teams of five students manage virtual companies over a six-week period. Participants must make strategic decisions regarding product pricing, advertising, customer targeting, and production investment.
Timeline
Shell began its sponsorship of the competition in 2017.
In 2025, participants ranked in the global top 10 percent.
The competition launched in the Dominican Republic in March 2026.
The tenth edition opens on October 6, 2026.
The prize-giving ceremony is scheduled for November 11, 2026.
Culture Shift
This program reflects a broader global shift toward experiential learning that favors applied business simulations over traditional academic instruction. By focusing on virtual company management, the competition aligns with modern trends in vocational training.
Students participating in the competition must dedicate significant time to managing their virtual firms throughout the six-week program. This experience requires a practical adjustment to their daily academic routines to balance simulation tasks with regular schoolwork.
The takeaway
Engaging in competitive business simulations allows students to test complex financial decisions in a risk-free environment. Participants often use these exercises to build the foundational skills necessary for future entrepreneurship.
What happens next
The competition officially opens on October 6, 2026, followed by the announcement of winners on November 11, 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about evolving learning models in Secondary Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Trinidad Express Newspapers.
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