Responsible financial habits, especially when learned early, pay dividends for a lifetime. That’s why Malvern College Tokyo—along with a curriculum that will meld the International Baccalaureate with the traditions that have made Malvern College a leader in education since 1865—will provide students with the opportunity to develop key financial literacy skills.
The school’s incorporation of financial education essentials in its curriculum is all part of its commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals who can grow into leadership roles, serving the societies of the future.
There are many ways that Malvern College Tokyo will approach teaching financial literacy, and many were on display at a set of three workshops that were part of the school’s Experience Programme that was held in April. The workshops were taught by experienced educators, who presented the concepts and activities in a manner that was appropriate to each age group.
Lessons for All Ages
Children aged five to seven took part in a “Needs & Wants” workshop. The activities in this session taught children how to tell the difference between needs and wants, presented some of the psychology behind delaying gratification and developing patience, and gave tips on making better purchase decisions. Children learned the key concept that wants can be unlimited, but money is limited. As a physical reminder of how money is a precious resource to be conserved, children had the opportunity to design their own piggy banks. For these younger children, the introduction to developing healthy financial habits was a valuable one.
Later in the day, eight- to 10-year-old children participated in a “Budgeting” workshop, which focused on personal finance, budgeting, and planning. Instructors provided a step-by-step guide that helped children learn how to categorize income and expenses, keep track of their budgets, and manage their time effectively. Children also had the chance to learn about a wide variety of budgets, including personal, household, company, and government budgets.
In the last session of the Experience Programme, learners aged 11 to 13 joined in a dynamic “Entrepreneurship” workshop. This gave them first-hand experience in starting and operating their own business. Working in teams of four, the children took part in making all the decisions related to their company, from naming it to deciding how many products to make and how much to charge for them. This multi-step process gave them the opportunity to practice leadership, communication and math skills.
All the hands-on workshops were engaging and energetic, in keeping with Malvern College Tokyo’s dedication to cultivating a love of learning from a young age. And they gave the children the opportunity to think about concepts and skills that will benefit them for many years to come.
Investing in Children’s Futures
The financial literacy curriculum is a central component of education at the school, which blends money management skills and economic concepts with critical thinking and creativity for students of all ages. In addition to understanding concepts such as needs and wants, younger students explore the curriculum through activities such as shopping simulations and career exploration, which encourage authentic learning contexts.
As students get older, they explore the idea of saving and learn the basics of investment options. Secondary students then deepen their understanding of the entrepreneurship skills such as those explored in the workshop, learning how to develop a business idea, conduct market research, and create a marketing strategy. They also discover how financial literacy is connected to qualities such as ethics and integrity. Building on the idea of investment that they explored in their earlier years, older students learn about investment diversification and stock market valuation, and even have the opportunity to learn from professional portfolio managers.
In general, Malvern College Tokyo’s financial literacy curriculum aims to impart practical life skills by means of age-appropriate examples and hands-on learning activities that foster financial responsibility throughout the stages of young learners’ development. The curriculum is in line with the Malvern Qualities that are central to the school philosophy as well as the International Baccalaureate Learner profile, and are linked to skills and values bases that connect financial literacy to qualities such as critical thinking, creativity, communication, and integrity. This ensures that Malvern students develop in a holistic manner as they build the skills and abilities that will serve them for years to come.
To discover more about Malvern College Tokyo, visit www.malverncollegetokyo.jp
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