BBC Breakfast Asks Should Personal Finance Lessons Be Taught In Our Schools?

We were very proud to see Emma Bloom, one of the 10,000 people we have advised in the last year, sharing her views on debt education on BBC Breakfast yesterday morning.

We were very proud to see Emma Bloom, one of the 10,000 people we have advised in the last year, sharing her views on debt education on BBC Breakfast yesterday morning.

Tim Muffet, BBC Breakfast’s roving reporter visited a school in Northern Ireland where lessons in personal finance are compulsory for all school children. Susan Boyd a teacher at Carrickfergus primary school commented that the children there are “learning about the things that will affect them in later life…things that will help them going into their teens”. The pupils certainly appeared to be enjoying their lesson – learning how to spend within a budget and the implications of borrowing.

Tim then went on to ask Emma Bloom, who has experienced problem debt first-hand, her opinion of whether money lessons should be part of our national curriculum. Not surprisingly Emma agreed with the lessons and wisely advised: “young people need to understand that becoming an adult is not about getting a car and a credit card, more importantly it’s about getting a job and managing your money.”

As part of our work as a charity we have worked with school pupils to create a range of learning tools, The Money Diaries, to support financial education. We firmly believe that financial education is vital for the adults of tomorrow.

Unfortunately lessons in personal finance are not compulsory outside Northern Ireland. We are appealing to the government to change this and we are very grateful for the help we receive from people like Emma who are willing to share their debt story to help others.

To watch the BBC report on personal finance in schools click here.