Pupils to get 'piggy bank' lessons
Piggy banks: not for smashing
The Building Societies Association is the trade association for the UK's building societies. It represents its members to those outside the sector on a number of issues.
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Monday, 04, Jan 2010 10:43
By politics.co.uk staff
Children as young as five will receive lessons on managing their piggy banks as a means of improving financial responsibility among the public.
The proposals come as part of a frantic set of policy announcements from both the government and the opposition today, as the general election campaigns begin with a vengeance.
Ed Balls also promised a £50 million fund for early interventions where six or seven-year-olds are falling behind in maths or English.
The children's secretary also called on primary schools to bring forward by a year plans to teach at least one foreign language, meaning the requirement could begin this September.
A new personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) curriculum will begin in September 2011 under the government plans, and would focus on teaching children how to manage their current and savings account.
Between five and seven, children would be taught how to identify different coins and notes, and how to save money, while seven to eleven-year-olds would be taught how to manage their bank accounts.
Eleven to 14 year-olds would be taught about credit cards, mortgages and basic household finance.
Sixteen-year-olds would be given classes on the effect of money and debt.