Forum: Financial literacy and healthy living incorporated in school curricula

We thank Ms Ang Bee Leng for her suggestions to incorporate financial literacy and healthy living into the school curricula (

Incorporate financial literacy and healthy living into mainstream education

, Jan 15) and agree that these are important areas that our students should learn from a young age.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) seeks to inculcate sound financial values and financial literacy skills by incorporating key concepts into the school curricula.

Primary school students are taught the importance of savings and spending within their means, and differentiating between needs and wants through character and citizenship education lessons.

Secondary school students learn how to become responsible and discerning consumers through food and consumer education lessons, where they are taught simple financial planning, responsible use of credit, and knowledge of consumer rights.

At the pre-university level, students learn how to weigh costs and benefits to make informed decisions in the economics curriculum.

At the same time, students gain knowledge and skills to enable them to adopt an active and healthy lifestyle through physical education (PE) lessons. These include the importance of healthy eating, where students are taught to eat the right type and amount of food, and how eating balanced meals provides the different nutrients they need. This lets them make informed decisions on their food choices. Students also learn about the importance of regular exercise and develop skills in physical activities and sports that will help them stay active throughout life.

Besides PE lessons, students can participate in a range of physical sports co-curricular activities in school. Schools also organise sporting events such as inter-class sports competitions to promote enjoyment in sports.

MOE will continue to review our curricula and programmes to equip our students with financial knowledge and important life skills to help them adopt positive financial behaviours and healthy lifestyles.

It is a whole-of-society effort to inculcate good financial and healthy habits in our young, and we will continue to work closely with parents as role models to guide our young in adopting important life skills.

Ong Kong Hong
Divisional Director, Curriculum Planning & Development Division 1
Ministry of Education