CAPTION: Mrs Raibe Katonibau talking to Ms Susie Homu, Mr Simon Tiwok, Mr Willie Santhy and Mr Alexandre Malere from Vanuatu.

[Suva, Fiji, 9 July, 2013] The Fiji Ministry of Education and the Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme is hosting a team from Vanuatu’s Ministry of Education and the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu to study how Fiji has implemented Financial Education in primary and secondary schools nationally.  Fiji is the first Pacific country to comprehensively integrate financial education within the school curriculum, as part of its commitment under the 2020 Money Pacific Goals.

The study visit is expected to assist Vanuatu as it prepares to introduce financial education into its school curriculum.

In welcoming the Vanuatu study visit team to the Ministry of Education, the Deputy Secretary Professional, Mrs Kelera Taloga said, “Financial Education has been and remains a priority initiative for the Ministry.  We are pleased to see Financial Education learning being available in classrooms around Fiji.  The Ministry sees this life learning as being essential not only for our children but for the nation as a whole.  We want our children to develop skills and knowledge around personal money management and investment with a focus towards their personal development. The benefits to our country and its economy are more apparent, once our children become financially competent.”

The study visit team was today treated to hands-on interaction with the Ministry’s teacher and student financial education resources.  These resources comprise learning lessons, financial education stories, student learning activities and board games at all levels from Class 1 through to Form 6.

Mr. Willie Santhy, a Curriculum Writer with the Vanuatu Ministry of Education, said the study visit has been an enlightening experience.  “We are strongly motivated and encouraged by the Fiji Financial Education integration experience.  This is in particular, given what the FinED Fiji Project has achieved in a short time from start to implementation and still following a rigorous process.  The FinED resources are to be commended.  We are mindful of the implications of Vanuatu’s endorsement of the 2020 Money Pacific goals and the importance of introducing financial education within the schooling system.  We will be carrying back to Vanuatu, a number of valuable strategies for consideration,” he said.

As part of their travel to Fiji, the Team will briefly visit FinED Fiji Regional Champion Schools, Nadi Muslim Primary School and Swami Vivekananda College in Nadi, to learn from their implementation experience, as Champion Schools which piloted Financial Education over the period 2011-2012.

FinED Fiji has generated strong interest from the Pacific and worldwide. This groundbreaking initiative is funded by the Australian Aid Program in Fiji and is jointly managed by the Ministry of Education and PFIP.

The Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP) is a joint programme of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with additional funding support from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the European Union/Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Microfinance Framework Programme (EU/ACP).

PRESS RELEASE

CAPTION: Mrs Raibe Katonibau talking to Ms Susie Homu, Mr Simon Tiwok, Mr Willie Santhy and Mr Alexandre Malere from Vanuatu.

[Suva, Fiji, 9 July, 2013] The Fiji Ministry of Education and the Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme is hosting a team from Vanuatu’s Ministry of Education and the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu to study how Fiji has implemented Financial Education in primary and secondary schools nationally.  Fiji is the first Pacific country to comprehensively integrate financial education within the school curriculum, as part of its commitment under the 2020 Money Pacific Goals.

The study visit is expected to assist Vanuatu as it prepares to introduce financial education into its school curriculum.

In welcoming the Vanuatu study visit team to the Ministry of Education, the Deputy Secretary Professional, Mrs Kelera Taloga said, “Financial Education has been and remains a priority initiative for the Ministry.  We are pleased to see Financial Education learning being available in classrooms around Fiji.  The Ministry sees this life learning as being essential not only for our children but for the nation as a whole.  We want our children to develop skills and knowledge around personal money management and investment with a focus towards their personal development. The benefits to our country and its economy are more apparent, once our children become financially competent.”

The study visit team was today treated to hands-on interaction with the Ministry’s teacher and student financial education resources.  These resources comprise learning lessons, financial education stories, student learning activities and board games at all levels from Class 1 through to Form 6.

Mr. Willie Santhy, a Curriculum Writer with the Vanuatu Ministry of Education, said the study visit has been an enlightening experience.  “We are strongly motivated and encouraged by the Fiji Financial Education integration experience.  This is in particular, given what the FinED Fiji Project has achieved in a short time from start to implementation and still following a rigorous process.  The FinED resources are to be commended.  We are mindful of the implications of Vanuatu’s endorsement of the 2020 Money Pacific goals and the importance of introducing financial education within the schooling system.  We will be carrying back to Vanuatu, a number of valuable strategies for consideration,” he said.

As part of their travel to Fiji, the Team will briefly visit FinED Fiji Regional Champion Schools, Nadi Muslim Primary School and Swami Vivekananda College in Nadi, to learn from their implementation experience, as Champion Schools which piloted Financial Education over the period 2011-2012.

FinED Fiji has generated strong interest from the Pacific and worldwide. This groundbreaking initiative is funded by the Australian Aid Program in Fiji and is jointly managed by the Ministry of Education and PFIP.

The Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP) is a joint programme of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with additional funding support from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the European Union/Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Microfinance Framework Programme (EU/ACP).

PRESS RELEASE