Loading articles...

Province to improve financial literacy for students in grades 3 to 12

FILE - This Aug. 11, 2019 file photo shows Visa credit cards in New Orleans. The average American consumer will have spent more than $1,000 on gifts this season, according to the National Retail Federation. And with six out of 10 Americans not having at least $1,000 in savings in the first place, that money for gifts have to come from somewhere, and that “somewhere” is typically a credit card or a personal loan. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

Students could soon be leaning more about financial literacy in Alberta.

Alberta Education announced that it’s enhancing programs for students in grade 3 to 12 through a pilot program this fall.

The initiative is a partnership between Enriched Academy and Junior Achievement chapters in the province.

Superintendent with Fort McMurray Catholic School Division, George McGuigan said courses would be incorporated in the Career and Life Management courses that are currently offered.

“I think the government is wise to be putting this initiative in and providing this for schools. I think given the nature of the business world, the nature of our economy and growing our youth to be responsible adults, being financially sound and responsible is certainly a key component that all our youth need to have.”

He explained that the program will need to be integrated in the existing curriculum and can’t be a standalone course.

Up to 4,000 students in Grades 10 to 12 will take part in the Enriched Academy pilot.

Meanwhile 4,500 more students will study hands-on, experiential financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship education through Junior Achievement’s Southern Alberta and Northern Alberta Chapters.