Schoolchildren to get fiscal guidance

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A new programme aimed at secondary schools is apparently going to teach our children how to budget, save and be smart with money. The programme, dubbed “Get Smart with your Money”, is a joint venture between the Money Advice and Budgeting Service and the Financial Regulator, and encourages students to explore their attitudes to money.

A “free pack”, containing a teachers manual full of activities, tips and case studies, and individual learner journals for the students, is being distributed to secondary schools around the country. The programme was officially launched last week by Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Hanafin.

“Having a dedicated module on finance which helps young people to understand budgeting, planning, shopping around and how to manage their resources in order to make the most of their money is very welcome,” she said at the launch.

“Students will be able to build on their knowledge from other financial areas of the curriculum such as mathematics and business studies,” she enthused.

Given the chronic state of underfunding in our schools, both primary and secondary, and an economy that’s nose diving into the depths of recession, I can’t help but wonder if Ms Hanafin and her cabinet colleagues might benefit from a bit of fiscal training of their own….