In a first, the State’s General Education department and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will join hands for a financial literacy programme across schools in the State.
Financial literacy is viewed as a critical 21st century skill around the world. Kerala has already brought out special textbooks on financial literacy as part of the revised curriculum in government and aided schools. While students from class V to VIII study content on financial literacy as part of skill education in 11 areas, the textbooks will help class IX and X students who opt for financial literacy for intensive skill development in one chosen sector learn more about financial discipline and how to manage money.
To further enhance financial literacy among all students, a need to equip school teachers with the knowledge and skills required to implement the financial literacy curriculum more effectively was felt, and the RBI reached out to the General Education department.
The department, in turn, entrusted the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) with the programme.
In the wake of discussions between the SCERT and the RBI, it was decided that teachers will first be given a structured training to improve the effectiveness of financial education.
ToT programme
Initially, a State-level ‘train the trainers’ (ToT) programme on financial literacy will be conducted for five teachers – two higher secondary and two high school teachers and one vocational higher secondary teacher – from each of the 14 districts by the second week of January at the latest.
This select group of teachers with background in economics and commerce will act as master trainers at the district level to further improve financial literacy among other teachers.
The SCERT hopes to train around 700 teachers – 50 from each district – this academic year on a pilot basis, and then take the learnings to make improvements for a wider rollout next year, says Renjith Subhash, SCERT research officer in vocational education who is also the coordinator for the financial literacy programme.
The training will be conducted on the basis of the textbooks which have been deemed comprehensive. Once the teachers are trained, they will begin training the students on financial planning and management using the textbooks with the idea of nurturing a financially responsible student community.
SCERT officials point out that financial literacy is not included in the NCERT curriculum or that of other States.
The pilot programme is expected to be inaugurated in Thiruvananthapuram by the end of January.
Published – December 02, 2025 06:37 pm IST
