LITERACY TRAINING FOR TEACHERS NATIONWIDE IN OCTOBER

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- The Train-the-Trainer (TTT): Personal Financial Management for Teachers programme, spearheaded by the Financial Education Network (FEN) and managed by the Financial Industry Collective Outreach (FINCO), will be cascaded to teachers at the district level beginning in October.

FINCO said the programme aims to not only enhance teachers’ knowledge of personal financial management to overcome vulnerabilities and strengthen financial resilience, but also to position them as positive financial role models for their students and communities, while boosting their confidence and capacity to deliver financial education effectively in schools.

It said the programme, which runs from August to September in the Klang Valley, Kedah, Terengganu, Sarawak and Sabah, involving 147 government school teachers and 26 Institute of Teacher Education (IPGM) lecturers, has produced positive outcomes.

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“Post-training endline data showed a significant increase in teachers’ confidence in sharing financial knowledge, with others rising from 41 per cent to 89 per cent.

“Participants also indicated an enhanced ability to understand and apply fundamental financial knowledge, skills and values when making financial decisions, improving from 71 per cent to 88 per cent,” FINCO said in a statement today.

According to FINCO, training one teacher from every district across Malaysia ensures that, once appointed as a lead trainer, there will be a network of on-the-ground trainers nationwide, with content that can be adapted to the needs of different demographics.

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FINCO chief executive officer (CEO) Clare Walker said when teachers are empowered with the knowledge and tools to manage their own finances, they will not only improve their own financial wellbeing, but also be better equipped to confidently deliver financial education and cascade practical skills to students.

“Many students demonstrate weak levels of financial knowledge, with little real-life exposure to money management. Although teachers are well placed to influence financial behaviours, many lack structured training and practical resources,” she was quoted in the statement.

Funded by partners AmBank Group, Bank Muamalat Malaysia, Bank Simpanan Nasional, CIMB Foundation, Hong Leong Bank, Public Bank, RHB Bank and Sea Ltd, FINCO said participants were introduced to six key financial topics -- savings and cash flow management, debt management, personal financial risk management, investment and scam awareness, digital financial literacy and retirement planning.

“The content for these topics is developed and delivered by Bank Negara Malaysia, the Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK), Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), Securities Commission and FINCO,” it added.

In addition to input from financial industry experts, FINCO said each training session also held a TTT Marketplace, where teachers could explore financial education resources available for students and speak directly to AKPK and EPF, as well as banks and insurance companies to further enhance their understanding of financial services and products.

Commenting on the financial industry’s support for TTT, FINCO chairman Tan Sri Azman Hashim said such collective commitment highlights the industry’s dedication to safeguarding financial wellbeing and investing in education and community development.

“The ripple effects of this initiative will extend well beyond the classroom, empowering not only teachers but also young people and their families will be equipped with the knowledge and resilience to navigate real-world financial challenges. This collaboration is an example of how industry leadership can spark change that benefits the nation,” he said.

-- BERNAMA