Government Launches Financial Capability Pilot For Schools 

0

Sorted in Schools has launched to teach teens about money and equip young New Zealanders for their financial futures.

Currently a nationwide trial involving more than 30,000 Year 9-10 students, the programme is funded by the government through the Commission for Financial Capability (CFFC).

It is the first financial capability learning resources to be directly linked to The New Zealand Curriculum.

The programme aims to teach students about budgeting, saving, debt and other money issues as part of usual subjects such as English, Technology and Maths.

Over the next three years Sorted in Schools will be rolled out to all students from Years 9-13, according to the CFFC.

Head of the CFFC, Retirement Commissioner, Diane Maxwell

The Head of the CFFC, Retirement Commissioner, Diane Maxwell, says the aim of Sorted in Schools is to equip students with skills in financial capability at an age when they’re vulnerable to falling into debt through access to credit and loans.

“Good money decisions have a momentum, and so do bad ones; we want our young people to benefit from good early decisions across a lifetime.”

CFFC research found that over 80 percent of students said they wanted to learn more about money at school.

Although almost all respondents agreed that saving was important, few regularly planned their spending.

“The aim is for young New Zealanders to leave school ready to navigate savings and debt, to understand their rights and be confident about engaging with lenders,” said Maxwell.

“Good money decisions have a momentum, and so do bad ones; we want our young people to benefit from good early decisions across a lifetime.”

Sorted in Schools will also provide professional development courses for teachers through the CFFC’s Workplace Education team in a way that benefits teachers in their own lives, with a view to reinforcing their classroom teaching.