FSC Says SFEP is Empowering Young People

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) says its Schools’ Financial Education Programme (SFEP) is empowering young people to establish strong personal money management tendencies.

According to Executive Director at the FSC, Janice P. Holness, the programme, which has been in operation for over five years, has reached some 1,200 students across the island, with the broad goal to “advance financial literacy in Jamaica.”

“This year’s programme directly targeted over 300 students, in 10 high schools. The students have learnt the fundamental elements of personal finance, and have been able to apply personal money management principles to a personal financial plan,” she said.

The FSC Head’s message was read by Acting Deputy Executive Director, Janet Johnson Haughton, at the 2016 SFEP awards ceremony, held yesterday (March 15), at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, in New Kingston.

Ms. Holness said the programme takes into account the  students’ own lifelong financial needs and personal financial plan, adding that the students have also been taught other valuable lessons to help them to become successful men and women of tomorrow.

The programme is designed to deliver knowledge that translates into greater financial inclusion for the next generation of Jamaicans, and to equip the participants with the necessary tools to make sound financial decisions for their future as adults.

The initiative is in keeping with a recent decision by the Ministry of Education, to make financial education a part of the schools’ curriculum.

Winners in the 2016 programme, which lasted from January 25 to March 15,  are: first place, Chrisanna Henry, from Denbigh High School, in Clarendon;  second, Chavine Lorraine, student at Ascot High School, and third, Rochelle R. Morse, from St. Jago High School.

Student at the Clarendon-based Glenmuir High School, Simone Thomas, said she was “grateful” to participate in the programme, and stressed that she and other students can now “budget, spend wisely, and we can now plan what we want in the future.”

“We are grateful that the FSC took the time to help young people, and educate us about managing money,” she said.