In early December, more than 1,000 teachers in the North Caucasus Federal District completed training on financial literacy programs, which was conducted by the North Caucasus Interregional Methodological Center (MMC) for financial literacy.
Oksana Stupnikova, head of the North Caucasian WMC, Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Management and Law of the North Caucasian Institute — a branch of RANEPA, spoke about teacher education, the role and importance of financial knowledge in the modern world.
In 2011, the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, together with the World Bank, launched the project «Promotion of financial knowledge and development of financial education», the main goal of which was to increase the financial knowledge of Russian citizens (especially school and university students and adults with low and medium incomes). The result of achieving this goal should be that citizens develop sound financial behaviour, make informed decisions and treat their personal finances responsibly.
In 2016, as part of the implementation of the contract «Help in building the staff potential of teachers, methodologists, administrators of educational organizations in the field of financial education, as well as effective infrastructure supporting their activities in the field of disseminating knowledge of financial literacy», Regional Methodological Centers were established (later, a number of them were transformed in IMC), the main goal of which is to create conditions in the region for the development of the staff potential of teachers — teachers, methodologists, lecturers who are able to effectively use curricula and materials in their professional activity aimed at developing competences in the field of financial education of various target and age groups of students general and secondary vocational schools, orphanages and boarding schools.
The implementation of the project began in 2016 with a 72-hour DPP PC «Content and teaching methodology of the financial knowledge course for various categories of students». In 2022, this program was revised, updated, and aligned with the requirements of the federal educational standard. The FMC that was involved in this program divided it into 2 programs for different categories of teachers, emphasizing the program for elementary school teachers «Contents and methods of teaching financial skills to schoolchildren as required by the IEO Federal State Educational Standard» into a separate DPP.
In addition, additional vocational programs (advanced training) were revised in 2022, aimed at using curricula and financial education materials in school subjects (24 hours): mathematics, social sciences, geography, history, computer science.
In addition, since July 2020, a 36-hour DPP has been launched and implemented for advanced financial education teachers who actively conduct financial education classes, introduce them into the educational process, systematically participate in All-Russian Weeks of Financial Education, etc.
Currently, professional development of teachers is carried out under the Strategy for the Improvement of Financial Competence in the Russian Federation for 2017-2023, approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of September 25, 2017 No. 2039-r. (hereinafter referred to as the Strategy). According to the road map of the Strategy, the share of schools and vocational schools involved in teaching financial competences should amount to 100% by 2024, and the number of teachers, teachers and methodologists who improved their qualifications — 98,000.
As part of the basic 72-hour program, teachers improve their professional competence in the content and methods of conducting a financial education course for various categories of students, which then allows them to shape the financial culture among the younger generation — children, youth and youth who are students of educational organizations included in to the education system of the Russian Federation. According to the 24-hour program, only teachers who have previously completed training under the 72-hour program can study, because the main goal of these programs is to improve the professional competence of teachers in the field of teaching financial competence, formation and shaping the financial culture of children in geography, social sciences , history, mathematics, computer science.
Teachers who actively implement financial competences in their activities (in and out of classes) have the opportunity to study in DPP (advanced training) «Shaping students’ financial competences using interactive technologies and digital educational resources (advanced level) «.
All teachers who have completed the training are periodically sent questionnaires containing questions on the implementation of financial competences. Points are awarded for active participation and implementation of financial education in the educational process. Exceeding the threshold allows you to study according to a 36-hour program.
“Of course, teachers are very busy, it’s hard for them, so a sufficient amount of teaching aids, methodological materials, ready-made lesson plans, scenarios of interactive events that can be used in practical classes have been developed.
Currently, financial literacy indicators are included in the assessment of the quality of regional financial management, which has become a monitoring indicator. Thus, one of the indicators characterizing the openness of budget data is the share of educational institutions that ensured the inclusion of elements of financial education in educational programs.
The North Caucasian WMC annually cooperates with regional authorities in the field of education on the need for teacher training, the format of training.
Despite the fact that, according to experts, the level of financial awareness has increased in recent years, it cannot stop there and it is necessary to continue systematic and systematic work on improving the financial awareness of young people,” said the expert.
.
