November 26, 2024
Education News Canada

ALBERTA
Financial literacy prepares students for their futures

November 26, 2024

Saving, budgeting, investing and the ability to make wise financial decisions are fundamental life skills Alberta's youth need to develop as they grow into adulthood. Alberta's government is ensuring that students have every opportunity to develop these fundamental life skills by integrating financial literacy into the K-12 curriculum and providing grant funding to three Canadian organizations to offer dedicated financial learning resources for students and teachers. 

"We are proud to support financial literacy programming for students. Our on-going support for financial literacy education will help young Albertans navigate their futures with confidence by helping them build the fundamental life skills they need to prosper and secure their futures in today's fast-moving world." 

Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education 

In May 2022, Alberta's government invested $5 million over three years into financial literacy programming to ensure students have the financial knowledge they need to thrive in life. Enriched Academy receives $900,000 per year and the Canadian Foundation for Economic Education receives $500,000 per year to provide students in grades 5 to 12 with financial literacy programming, aligned with the curriculum, to improve their financial knowledge. In addition, Junior Achievement receives $250,000 per year to provide hands-on, experiential financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship education to students in kindergarten to Grade 6.  

"Our support for financial literacy programming will set Alberta's youth up for success. This programming will ensure that Alberta's youth develop the fundamental life skills they need to manage their personal finances, make sound financial decisions, and grow into adulthood with confidence." 

Nate Horner, President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance 

Free financial literacy webinar

Some of the funding provided will support Enriched Academy hosting a free live webinar for grades 4 to 12 students and teachers on Tuesday, November 26, as part of their financial literacy programming. The webinar will teach students how to build their credit with confidence and will feature an interactive gameshow format to engage and motivate students to learn how credit works and how to manage credit and their personal finances with confidence. Students and teachers who are interested in participating can register for the webinar online. 

"Our partnership with the Government of Alberta has enabled us to deliver transformational financial literacy education to nearly six hundred thousand students across the province. As a high school teacher, I've witnessed firsthand how financial literacy education empowers students, increasing their confidence in money management and preparing them to be financially responsible. Investments in financial literacy are investments in our students' futures, and I'm already seeing it pay dividends for Alberta students." 

Sonya Fox, Alberta director, Enriched Academy 

Teachers can also access lesson plans, activities, and interactive tools from all three organizations' websites to support financial literacy learning outcomes in Alberta's curriculum. 

Quick facts

  • Financial literacy programming offered by the three organizations reaches more than 350,000 students annually.  
  • Alberta's renewed K-6 curriculum includes an increased emphasis on financial literacy skills, as well as a stronger foundation in financial literacy in all grades.

Related information

For more information

Government of Alberta

www.alberta.ca


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