All for one economy for all! This is the project promoted by the Bank of Italy, in support of the Financial Education program in schools. With the aim of developing financial literacy in our country, bringing financial education to school desks, with specific teaching materials for both teachers and students. For the first time also available for secondary schools, thus completing the educational path, from elementary to high school.
For the Pisa 2018 survey on financial literacy of Italian students, 15-year-olds score lower on tests than the average of their peers in OECD countries. Furthermore, a fifth does not have the minimum level of financial literacy, the level essential for making informed choices in financial matters. There are also regional gaps (students from the North obtain higher scores than those from the Center and above all from those from the South), but also among the school programs themselves.
Another important result is the gender gap: girls find it more difficult to pass financial literacy tests, even with the same skills. While in the other OECD countries the differences are not so significant.
For over a decade the Bank of Italy, in collaboration with MIUR, promotes financial education in schools. The goal is to solve the problem of Italians' lack of knowledge, starting from the youngest, when it comes to economics and finance, so as to understand the fundamental concepts to make prudent and informed choices in line with one's needs.
For the first time, the volumes "All for one economy for all" for upper secondary schools are available, also online. The didactic resources feature 5 characters – 4 boys and a dog – who accompany Italian students on their growth path for all levels of compulsory schooling.
There is also one for each type of school guide for teachers, structured in a parallel way to the booklet for children, which explains basic concepts that help to understand what money is, how to save it, but above all how to use it.
In addition, the book alternates between theoretical explanations, through a simple and understandable language, to descriptions of their practical applications, which allow children to approach these issues starting from everyday experiences.
“At this stage, it is precisely the students who can suffer the most lasting effects of this pandemic – he said Daniele Franco, General Manager of the Bank of Italy -. Financial education is also important in this difficult moment, because it leads us to look to the future. After this phase of the pandemic, the harsh recession that the country is facing, we would need a country that is growing and to do so we would need rich and well-informed human capital".
