Gordon Wyant, Saskatchewan’s Deputy Premier and Education Minister has announced that writing for new financial literacy courses is beginning this month.
 
The new curriculum will initially be for Grade 11 and 12 students, but teachers at middle-schools will also be able to introduce their students to financial literacy topics using the modules in middle-level practical and Applied Arts courses.
 
“The ability to manage personal finances is an essential skill in our daily lives,” Wyant said. “We want our students to be prepared for their futures, and that’s why it’s so important to engage students in financial literacy.”

The plan is for the pilot program to start next school year and full implementation is expected to take around two years.

The curriculum is being written by ministry consultants as well as teachers who apply and are selected by the Ministry of Education in consultation with the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation.

“Our members, the province’s 28 school boards, have adopted recent resolutions in support of developing a personal finance class for high school students and of implementing a provincial strategy to address financial literacy for all students,” Saskatchewan School Boards Association President Dr Shawn Davidson said. “Increased focus on financial literacy has also been a theme commonly identified by students in scholarship essays we have received and student panels we have hosted in recent years.”

The Saskatchewan School Boards Association and the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce have been in support of seeing financial literacy as part of the curriculum for several years. “Financial literacy is critical for personal and business success and as such, the Saskatchewan Chamber has long been advocating for specific classes on this subject,” Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce CEO Steve McLellan said. “Therefore we very much applaud the work of the Ministry of Education and this announcement. We believe Saskatchewan will soon be graduating a much more financially literate young person which is a very positive move for our economy, our students and our communities overall. Making sure that Saskatchewan’s youth are equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to make responsible financial decisions now and for the future is vital."