Saskatchewan students will now have the chance to learn important life skills such as budgeting and money management with the introduction of two new courses in the province.

Financial Literacy 20 and 30 are now being offered to all Saskatchewan school divisions and two First Nation Education Authorities.

The courses will address financial topics students might already be facing and highlight other topics that could pertain to their futures.

Deputy Premier and Education Minister Gordon Wyant spoke on the need for the courses.

“Our Government wants to ensure Saskatchewan’s students are provided with relevant and practical curricula that will prepare them for their futures. Developing additional opportunities for all Saskatchewan students to learn and improve upon their financial literacy empowers them to manage their money effectively, and will be of significant benefit to students throughout their lives.”

According to Susan Nedelcov-Anderson, the Assistant Deputy Minister of Education the two level system will include a 20 level that deals with introduction topics including the purpose of money, budgeting and maintaining accurate financial records. While the 30 level will become more complex, dealing with everything from debt management, purchasing and leasing property and even planning for the future into retirement.

The idea to develop financial literacy courses for the province came from a practical and applied arts reference committee. Consisting of teachers, representatives from post-secondary institutions, chamber representatives and from those in business and industry. From there, teacher writers created drafts that were tested in the classroom for feedback. Those drafts were also reviewed by many industry professionals, leading to the development of the final versions that will be distributed in the province.

Nedelcov-Anderson says that she anticipates these courses to be popular and that while they are listed as secondary courses, studies can be applied earlier.

“Parts of the courses can actually be used all the way down to grade 7. Students in grade 7, 8, 9 and all through high school can learn about the concepts of financial literacy. In addition there are other opportunities to address financial literacy in other subject areas. In other secondary courses such as workplace and apprenticeship math and foundations of mathematics . Other areas such as entrepreneurship , economics, accounting and life transitions. Even in compulsory career education that starts in grade 6.”

With the added courses there will be lots of opportunities for students to explore the concept of financial literacy.

Each school board of education will determine which schools offer these courses within their division.