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Alberta high schools to teach financial literacy this fall

Apr 21, 2021 | 2:14 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Junior and senior high school students will soon be developing their financial knowledge in class.

The Alberta Government is putting out a call for grant proposals for organizations that can work with schools to provide financial literacy programming starting in fall 2021.

Education Minister Adriana LaGrange says students will study concepts such as costs, interest, debt, investing, insurance, and how the economy impacts their lives.

“For the first time in a meaningful way, financial literacy is being addressed across multiple subjects and grades in an age-appropriate way in our province. Understanding how money works will help students gain confidence, solve practical problems and prepare them for the future.”

A pilot project was done by Enriched Academy and Junior Achievement in the 2020/21 school year.

Finance Minister Travis Toews says they have been working with 39,000 students in Grades 4-12 in both rural and urban communities.

“Strong financial management is the foundation of a successful economy. Likewise, it’s an essential life skill that can add immense value to one’s personal endeavours. This is why I’m proud of the $1 million investment in financial literacy education, which will support our youth transitioning into adulthood and better equip them for personal and professional success.”

According to the provincial government, courses on financial literacy have been asked for numerous times over several years.