News item | 11-03-2024 | 17:49
Minister Carola Schouten (Poverty Policy, Participation and Pensions) has made € 18.7 million available this year for a subsidy for financial education in secondary schools. For example, to train teachers who teach students about financial matters. This teaches young people to manage their finances better. Secondary schools can submit an application from April 15.
When young people turn 18, they are legally financially independent. This works well for most young people, but for many young people becoming financially independent is a major challenge. Out research by the BKR shows that 24,000 young people between the ages of 18 and 25 are experiencing one or more payment problems. It is therefore important that young people learn how to deal with money matters and financial worries before they turn 18. Both parents and schools have a role in this. Schools are increasingly offering financial education. In 2023, Minister Schouten already made €8.6 million available for financial education for MBO students. Many requests came in at that time.
Minister Schouten: “When you are young, the world is still your oyster. Many young people have big plans and ambitions for the future. And when you become an adult, you suddenly have to take care of everything financially yourself. But everything costs money, and money also has risks. Every day you are tempted by advertisements for investing in crypto or paying later. And then it is sometimes quite difficult to see all the consequences. A debt is easily incurred, but it will haunt you for a long time. It is therefore important to teach young people as early as possible about handling money.”
Grant for financial education and support
In this way, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment offers schools the opportunity to offer financial education in a structured manner. Schools can apply for one-off financial support for a longer period (more than 3 years). This allows them, for example, to train teachers who teach students about financial matters, to hire or release employees to ensure that financial education is given a structural place at school, or to organize financial guidance for students with financial problems. The money can also be used to involve parents or caregivers in the financial education of their children.
Apply a request
Submitting an application is possible from April 15 to May 10, 2024. State-funded schools will then receive the money this year to start working in the new school year. In preparation for the application, online information meetings will be organized on March 19 and 21. Information about the procedure and conditions can be found at geldlessen.nl/subsidie.
The subsidy is an addition to existing initiatives from municipalities to teach or support young people at school about money.
The subsidy scheme is an initiative of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment in collaboration with the Ministries of Finance and Education, Culture and Science.