MP calls for better financial education for young people - The Solihull Observer

MP calls for better financial education for young people

Solihull Editorial 30th Mar, 2016 Updated: 21st Oct, 2016   0

SOLIHULL’S MP is calling for better financial education for children and young people.

Julian Knight has joined calls from Martin Lewis, TV personality and founder of moneysavingexpert.com, to better integrate money management skills into maths classes.

While financial education is a legal requirement, at the moment it is usually only taught for a few hours here and there.

And when it is taught in maths classes it is often simply ‘dressed up’ in ordinary maths problems, rather than directly tackling the financial situations the children may find themselves in when they are older.




Mr Knight and Mr Lewis are among others who support making financial education a recognised part of the maths curriculum, alongside algebra and trigonometry.

Commenting on the proposals, Julian Knight said: “This is a very important campaign, and I’m very pleased to join Martin in taking the lead in calling for real reform.


“By integrating financial education into maths we can not only impart vital skills to the next generation – we can also help them to appreciate the practical benefits of mathematics.

“As a former consumer journalist myself, I appreciate how important financial literacy truly is.

“Not only can it save you a great deal of money over the years, but it’s a vital step for young people looking to become independent adults.

“That so many Britons lack these basic and easily-learned skills costs us billions of pounds, and leave them more vulnerable to scams such as PPI.

“This is a relatively small change which could make a positive difference to millions, and I will fight to make it happen.”

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