This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Pupils to learn value of money
09/11/2006
Money Week - a special pack for primary schools to help teachers plan a week of lessons on money matters - is being made available from today.
Deputy Education Minister Robert Brown also announced the appointment of two specialists who will work with schools to improve financial education.
Mr Brown was visiting Dunblane Primary who introduced their own Money Week as a way of developing the children's further understanding of the value of money. This led to the thinking behind the resource which was developed by Roz McEwan, depute headteacher at the school.
Mr Brown said:
"We want our pupils to leave school equipped with the skills they need for life. Knowledge and understanding of the world of finance is essential for day to day life nowadays.
"Scotland also has a strong financial sector and so it is likely that many young people will go on to work in the world of banking and insurance. A good foundation in financial skills is clearly an enormous asset.
"By giving children the chance to develop these skills early on, we are preparing them well for the future."
Bernard McLeary, Chief Executive of Learning and Teaching Scotland, said:
"Learning and Teaching Scotland is delighted that the Deputy Minister is launching Money Week. The excellent work that has gone into the production of this resource illustrates the partnership work that our organisation is keen to develop across the public, private, charitable and voluntary sectors.
"We would like to thank the Financial Services Authority, the Personal Finance Education Group and Stirling Council for their assistance in the production of Money Week and Standard Life for their support in printing and distributing the resource and in ensuring that the resource will be supported through the continuing professional development of teachers."
Stirling Council's Executive Member with responsibility for Children's Services Margaret Brisley said:
"I praise the staff and children in Dunblane Primary School for their enthusiasm and innovative approach to financial education and in particular for their input to national Money Week."
The Scottish Centre for Financial Education (SCFE), which is based in Learning and Teaching Scotland, worked with the Financial Services Authority and the Personal Finance Education Group (pfeg) to develop Money Week for Scottish primary schools.
Scotland was the first country in the UK to produce curriculum guidelines on financial education in 1999.