THE ROLE OF ECONOMICS TEACHERS TOWARDS FINANCIAL LITERACY

MICHELLE R. MAGLAQUI

Being an economics teacher is a transformative experience for any educator like me. Economics teachers play an important part in teaching financial literacy to students. In today’s world where financial choices have a huge impact on people and society, it is important for teachers to provide their students with knowledge and skills they will need to make informed decisions. First step in instilling financial literacy to students is to build a strong foundation in economic concepts such as the fundamentals of demand and supply, budgeting, saving, investing and the like to help them understand the economic forces at work in their lives. However, beyond teaching theoretical concepts, teachers of economics should also create opportunities for students to apply such principles to real-world situations. Teachers should engage his/her students in a more practical exercises, activities, and simulations to develop students’ critical thinking and problem solving skills linked to finance. In addition, teachers can be role models to students and encourage them to develop financial literacy by means of sharing their own stories and demonstrating a good financial habit. I may say that being an economics teacher is a very rewarding path to take. It allows you to guide your students towards financial literacy. You provide your students with the tools - the knowledge they need to navigate the complex world of financial freedom. The ability to make wise financial choices and acquiring lifelong financial skills is something that students can achieve with the guidance and supervision of an economics teacher. And with all these, we are creating a more affluent future of themselves.

-oOoThe author is Secondary School Teacher III at Francisco G. Nepomuceno Memorial High School