Pupils with ‘Good SENS’

Congratulations: The winning teams showcased their financial savviness by pitching investment ideas to a panel of judges.

FOUR primary schools from Selangor proved their mettle by emerging champions at the inaugural Financial Industry Collective Outreach (Finco) programme, Good SENS.

“Money Makers” from SK Shah Alam, “Rainbow” from SK Taman Sri Muda 2, “Money Matters” from SK Taman Bunga Raya 2 and “Power” from SJK (T) Ladang Kinrara did their schools proud when the teams were jointly named overall winners of the “Best Social Enterprise” award.

Each team took home trophies and a share of the RM12,000 prize money.

The announcement during the recent online ceremony brought to a close the first year of Finco’s flagship financial literacy programme, which used social enterprise as a vehicle for the development of financial literacy skills among pupils in government primary schools.

The winners were among 33 teams from 20 primary schools who participated in a year-long initiative which saw financial industry mentors, teachers and facilitators guide the pupils through curated modules mapped to the Education Ministry’s financial literacy curriculum.

The pupils also received support in developing profit-generating business models for social causes they were passionate about.

From selling cookies and face masks to doing grocery runs and planting mangrove saplings, the pupils were able to impress judges comprising representatives from the ministry, financial industry and social enterprise sector when they competed for investments for their businesses.

During the online ceremony, teachers Viola Adtak and Noorhasmihan Ab Rahim from SK Sungai Danga were named “Teacher of the Year”, while financial industry volunteer mentor Saravanan Palaniappan from Manulife Insurance was recognised for his outstanding contribution to the programme. Awards were also given out for various individual achievements throughout the programme.

Finco chief executive officer Clare Walker said the Good SENS programme was introduced in 2021 to support the Malaysia National Strategy for Financial Literacy by providing pupils with the opportunity to learn about financial concepts and to develop good financial habits through real-life application.

“Together with the Social Enterprise Academy Malaysia, we launched Good SENS last year and have been immensely proud of the way in which students, teachers and financial industry mentors have embraced this opportunity to grow and apply what they’ve learnt.

“Besides increased financial literacy, the pupils have improved their English proficiency and leadership skills, teamwork and critical thinking,” she said in a press release on Jan 28.

Besides Good SENS participants, students who took part in Finco’s 2021 English Language Competition also received their prizes.With the theme “Reading More and Reading Better”, teachers and students were tasked with showcasing either a lesson or an idea that enables young people in their schools or communities to improve their English proficiency through reading.

The competition was in line with the ministry’s Highly Immersive Programme (HIP).

Myzatul Sarah Yusof from SK Desa Cempaka, Negri Sembilan, won the “Outstanding Teacher 2021” award while teams from SK Kapulu, Sabah, and SMK Taman Semarak and Kolej Tunku Kurshiah, Negri Sembilan, submitted the winning ideas in the primary and secondary student competition categories.

Good English proficiency and financial literacy, said Finco chairman Tan Sri Azman Hashim, are enablers for young people – particularly those from underprivileged communities – to contribute to the country’s economic prosperity.

The financial industry, through Finco – a collaborative initiative to provide underprivileged children and youth with the guidance and educational tools they need to achieve their life goals – is committed to long-term investment in sustainable and impactful educational programmes, he said.

“(Besides providing) funding, financial industry volunteers have worked alongside teachers to ensure that students have the support they need to develop skills both within and beyond the national curriculum,” he said.