Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1495034
4 NEWS 16.3.2023 THE Malta Bankers Association (MBA) will once again be joining the European Banking Federation (EBF) and national banking associations across Europe in marking European Money Week (EMW), with a series of events being held between the 20 and 26 March. EMW is an annual financial educa- tion drive targeting the younger gen- erations. It was launched by the EBF in 2015 to promote financial literacy and to raise awareness on money and personal finances. The initiative has since spread to 35 European countries, bearing testimony to the commitment of the banking industry to help people manage their finances better and im- prove their quality of life. The Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, Dr. Clifton Grima will be opening the EMW 2023 activities on Monday, 20 March. Karol Gabarretta, Secretary General of the MBA, said: "As a member of the EBF, the MBA will for the ninth con- secutive year, be organising several activities to mark EMW. Like our Eu- ropean counterparts, we strongly ac- knowledge the importance of initiat- ing financial education at a young age and, as stakeholders in the industry, we are proud to give our contribution so that Maltese youngsters are not left behind. This is even more important given the rapid advancements in fi- nancial services and the digital econ- omy." All activities in the calendar of events put together by the MBA in co-ordination with the Home Eco- nomics Seminar Centre (HESC) with- in the Directorate for Learning and Assessment Programmes (DLAP), Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation (MEYR) are centred around the theme chosen by the EBF for EBW 2023, in line with the OECD-INFE Global Money Week: 'Financial skills: Lighting the path to a sound financial future'. This theme was inspired by the conviction that ba- sic money management skills remain a priority and is set in the context of the joint EU/OECD-INFE financial competence framework for children and youth which is expected to be fi- nalised in 2023. The theme of Glob- al Money Week is 'Plan your money, plant your future.' Both themes cap- ture the importance of thinking about one's own future when making finan- cial decisions. 'Be Money Smart!' is a programme for Year 6 schoolchildren that aims to develop the learners' financial ca- pabilities by enabling them to plan a simple budget, outline the importance of saving money, discuss the main role of banks, identify ways to verify au- thentic bank notes and discuss ways how to be a critical consumer. This programme will be run by the HESC within the Directorate for Learning and Assessment Programmes (DLAP), MEYR, in collaboration with the Cen- tral Bank of Malta (CBM). Older students in Year 9, Year 10 & Year 11 will be invited to attend the 'Be Wise, Pay Smart' programme. This programme explores the use of the ATM and different methods of payments. Students will also have the opportunity to discuss ways how to be smart consumers through the use of educational video clips. This pro- gramme will be facilitated by support teachers from the HESC in collabora- tion with MBA members. This year's EMW will also see the launch of the 'JA Malta - Building a Financially Capable Generation' pro- gramme for Year 8 - Year 11 students. This new programme provides young people with the practical information needed to support them on their way to financial capability both on a per- sonal and businesses level through discussions and online game-led ac- tivities. All students taking part in this programme will have the opportunity to represent their school as a team at the National Innovation Challenge. Educators will also be given the opportunity to develop their own fi- nancial capabilities during a seminar for teachers in middle and secondary schools. The training seminar aims to em- power teachers to model good finan- cial behaviour and effectively address financial literacy-related goals and outcomes. This programme, besides featuring interventions from members of the MBA, speakers from GEMMA, JA Malta, the Commissioner for Revenue and the Office of the Information and Data Protection Commissioner will also take part. One of the stalwart events of EMW is the Financial Literacy Challenge, the closing date of which was the 6 March. This challenge was open to students in Year 4 to Year 8 in State and Non-State schools. Participants on an individual, or group, basis were asked to create a healthy, low-cost food item with emphasis on seasonal- ity, sustainability and local. Prizes, which are sponsored by the MBA, will be awarded to the win- ners of both categories i.e. those par- ticipants placing first and second in the individual and group categories respectively. The results will be an- nounced at the opening event on the 20 March, where all participants will be given a certificate. EMW 2023 will culminate with an event organised by the MBA, in con- junction with the National Council of Women and supported by the Central Bank of Malta, namely a conference with the aim of fostering an enhanced appreciation of the benefits of finan- cial literacy, themed 'Women and Fi- nance'. A closing adddress will be de- livered by the Governor of the CBM Prof. Edward Scicluna.The event is being held on 24 March at the Binja Laparelli within the CBM. Further details regarding the confer- ence and registration can be obtained on https://www.maltabankers.org/ women-and-finance/ Financial literacy among youth at the focus of European Money Week 2023 MINISTERS, Central Bank Governors and senior offi- cials from Albania, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, San Marino and Timor-Leste convened in San Marino for an IMF-WBG constit- uency meeting. Other par- ticipants in the meeting included Executive Direc- tors Federico Giammusso and Matteo Bugamelli, who represent the constituency at the IMF and WBG re- spectively. Among the topics dis- cussed were the direction and policy priorities of the IMF and WBG, the future of currency and energy. For this constituency meeting in San Marino, Central Bank of Malta Gov- ernor, Professor Edward Scicluna was accompanied by Deputy Governor Al- exander Demarco. ey were part of the Malta del- egation which also included the Minister for Finance and Employment Clyde Caruana and the Ministry's Permanent Secretary Paul Zahra. is year's constituen- cy meeting in San Marino was the first such meet- ing since 2020, with those planned for 2021 and 2022 being cancelled due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. IMF/WBG Constituency Meeting in San Marino CBM Governor participates in IMF-WBG constituency meeting in San Marino