Children who were exposed to the National Financial Literacy Programme’s (NFLP) schools’ component, FLITE, have given it the thumbs up, with many saying it was “exceptional”.
Programme Coordinator for the schools’ component, Corey Worrell, said approximately 485 children learned about financial literacy during the first phase of the Ministry of Energy and Business’ initiative.
Mr. Worrell continued: “We received an amazing response to the programme from the children. Based on our evaluation of the primary schools, we were able to conclude that the children gained knowledge from their financial literacy sessions and retained it.
“The feedback has been exceptional, and we are encouraged that they are practising what they have learnt, and the information is already making inroads into the community.”
He described the programme as a “dynamic learning experience”, designed to educate, empower, and equip school-aged children and the youth with the knowledge, understanding, and skills needed to make informed financial decisions.
“In other words, FLITE aims to make them more financially literate. We envision that this increased financial literacy will enhance their overall quality of life and enable them to achieve their personal dreams,” the Programme Coordinator stated.
The first phase of the programme was delivered during Term 2 and the first six weeks of Term 3 to Class 2 and Second Form students. It ended on May 31, and was facilitated by 13 persons, including five volunteers from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados.
At the end of the promotional examinations, a Post-Exam Programme was implemented to introduce the FLITE to Class 1 and First Form students. They will be participating in phase two of the programme, which starts in the new academic school year.
Mr. Worrell said that approximately 400 students benefitted from 106 financial literacy sessions in the Post-Exam Programme. They examined “The Psychology of Money”, “Buying on a Budget”, and “Soaring through Saving”.
The participating primary schools in the Post-Exam Programme were Wilkie Cumberbatch, Wesley Hall, Shirley Chisholm, St. Matthew’s, Lawrence T. Gay, and St. Silas, while the secondary schools were Coleridge & Parry, Deighton Griffith, and The Lodge School.
He disclosed that 12 of the 13 schools in the pilot phase of the NFLP will be involved in phase two, which will commence in the 2024/2025 academic year.