March 18, Minsk /BELTA/. A Financial Literacy Week for schoolchildren is being held in Belarus from March 16 to 21. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by Yulia Sakovich, Head of the Financial Literacy Department of the Non-Banking Operations Regulation Department of the National Bank.
"An important part of the ongoing work to improve the financial literacy of the population is the financial education of the younger generation. The significance of financial education for youth is recognized worldwide. This is evidenced by the celebration of the International Day of Children and Youth Finance on March 16 in many countries. The National Bank decided to join this event and hold a financial literacy week for schoolchildren from March 16 to March 21, 2013," noted Yulia Sakovich. Certain adjustments to the start of the financial literacy week were made due to Cyclone Haver. The Ministry of Education sent a tele-message to all regions of Belarus cancelling events involving children on March 16.
Weather conditions have now normalized. According to current plans, with the assistance of the Belarusian Republican Youth Union (BRSM), educational events will be held in educational institutions in Minsk, where an interactive educational game for schoolchildren, "Financial Football," will be organised in a competitive format between teams during the financial literacy week. The two winning teams will be invited to the National Bank for the final game, where they will be presented with gifts and prizes (notebooks, pens with the National Bank logo, scientific calculators, basic calculators). Dictionaries with key economic terms (adapted for high school students) are also planned to be distributed to the children at the final event.
"According to the work plans submitted to the central office of the National Bank by the main departments of the National Bank for the regions, a large number of open lessons, information sessions, and presentations by banking specialists to students of educational institutions, as well as at parent-teacher meetings and pedagogical councils in schools, are planned for March 2013," reported Yulia Sakovich.
Specialists from the main department of the National Bank for the Mogilev region are actively conducting financial literacy classes even for the youngest, preschool and primary school children. They developed the methodology for conducting financial literacy classes in kindergartens and schools themselves.
The National Bank also appealed to Belarusian banks with a request to support this initiative and organize various events and campaigns aimed at improving the financial literacy of the younger generation. Many banks responded to this call.
In particular, OJSC "ASB Belarusbank" posted a banner on its website with information about the history and reasons for the International Day of Finance for Children and Youth. The bank is intensifying its efforts to improve the financial literacy of schoolchildren (with the presentation of glossaries "Financial Alphabet from Belarusbank") and students. In addition, it is planned to publish articles in leading children's print media ("Kacheli", "Zorka", "Perekhodny vozrast", "Detskaya gazeta", "Yuny spasatel", "Znamya yunosti") about possible financial problems and the need to understand financial responsibility, about acquiring skills in saving money and a responsible approach to spending, as well as about banking products that this segment can use.
OJSC "Belagroprombank" has developed and approved a plan of measures for the preparation and conduct of a financial literacy week for schoolchildren, in accordance with which bank representatives will participate in open lessons, seminars, and lectures on teaching schoolchildren and students the basics of financial literacy. Also during these days, Belagroprombank plans to hold "Birthday Person Days" among the participants of the advertising campaign "Children's Savings Program 'Grow Big!'", as well as to present bank payment cards to the participants of the children's competition "I Sing!".
Other banks have also joined the events to improve the financial literacy of children and youth, including OJSC "Belinvestbank", OJSC "Fransabank", CJSC "Onerebank".
Furthermore, last week saw the launch of a new project by the newspaper "Komsomolskaya Pravda in Belarus" in conjunction with the National Bank and the Association of Belarusian Banks on financial education for children, "Money Alphabet". This is a page with comics, bright and colorful information that explains to children in an accessible way how money is earned, spent, and saved, what income opportunities exist, how to learn to make the right financial decisions.
In the Joint Action Plan of State Bodies and Financial Market Participants to Improve the Financial Literacy of the Population of Belarus for 2013-2018, approved on January 17, 2013, by the Council of Ministers and the National Bank, special attention is paid to such target groups as children and students, Yulia Sakovich emphasized. This includes the introduction of new elective classes on financial literacy issues in educational institutions, the development of the educational and methodological manual "Financial Literacy," and the creation of a series of educational popular science videos explaining the basic elements and concepts of the financial system.
"Financial literacy of children is an investment in their future, and it is simply necessary to pay enough attention to it. We hope that the result of this work to improve the financial education of the younger generation will be an improvement in the standard of living and confidence in the future, stability and prosperity of the economy and society as a whole," noted Yulia Sakovich. According to her, Russian colleagues also recognize the need for such work. Already this year, some Russian schoolchildren will begin to study a new subject - the basics of financial literacy. And from 2018, it will become mandatory for everyone. The pilot project is being launched in September on the initiative of the Ministry of Finance in five regions. Schoolchildren from the first to the final grades will study the new subject on a mandatory basis. Similar subjects exist in the USA, England, Australia, and Germany. -0-