Central Bank and Ministry of Education Launch Financial Literacy E-Book for Schools

Financial literacy for the Primary School level has taken a new high with the launch of a financial literacy E-book by the Central Bank of Belize in partnership with the Ministry of Education. Today, teachers from across the nation were present at the launch and training on the use of the e-book, as they welcomed the new initiative for their classrooms. National Financial Inclusion Analyst Jair Pol of the Central Bank of Belize spoke on the importance of the e-book.

Jair Pol, National Financial Inclusion Analyst: “The Central Bank of Belize has always supported financial education initiatives and under the National Financial Inclusion Strategy there is a project that we want to increase financial literacy 100% to our Belizean primary school students. So the Central Bank fully supported and collaborated with the Ministry of Education to ensure that financial education is incorporated in the primary school curriculum. So we have worked with them and this is a grand moment because we are launching the e-book which is going to make it accessible for all students, primary school students in Belize to have access to basic understanding of financial institutions and transactions in Belize.”

A narrative of the education system directing students of the Primary level to be heavily reliant on financial lending institutions was poised to Pol. Here’s his comment.

Jair Pol, National Financial Inclusion Analyst: “So what we’re doing is we’re empowering individuals to better be financially literate in different topics. So the literate itself includes financial institutions but also other investment tools. It gives the opportunity, like the presenter had said, that it gives the opportunity for students to be able to use their own capital and be able to start their own business in that sense. So we’re empowering the students so that they will have the tools to be able to decipher themselves which track they would like to have.”

The e-book is easily accessible by students via the 501 Academy website at www.501academy.edu.bz