“I think it was important because it allowed us to have notions about financial management for the future. We have already started with the school government. “The advantage lies in time management first, in our finances by making the difference between what is needed and what is futile – in a word, saving money.” “A fundamental training for us, future university students. Respect of our commitments in time and equip ourselves financially to manage ourselves.” Such were some comments of the high school students who participated on March 18, 19 and 20, 2019, to a money management training for Grades 10 to 12 at EL HADJI AMADOU DEME High School in Sokone (Senegal). The objectives of this training attended by 140 students were:
- Help students be more aware of their expenses
- Train students on how to manage their budget
- Help them with time management
Grade 12 students worked on a budget thanks to the story of a student in Dakar, who has various expenses and trouble managing them. They also discussed the impact of their money requests on their parents and calculated a daily spending limit. Finally they looked at how to handle a phone purchase.
Grade 11 students started their session with setting priorities in the morning, then discussed the consequences of spending (if I buy a garment, at the same time I decide not to keep money for my notebooks for example). The travel game allowed students to think about how to organise and sequence a project in various steps. Then they ended up with basic notions about managing the accounts of a small business.
For the 10th graders who do not necessarily receive money from their parents, the emphasis was placed on the notion of priorities and raise their awareness on the consequences of short-term choices. They also reviewed practical tips for controlling expenses so they do not consume without thinking.
Ramatoulaye who facilitated these five workshops, found that “the students were interested and astonished. As part of their curriculum and family, no one has ever taken the time to talk to them about the money or the expenses or consequences behind them. They have understood the message.”
Many thanks to Mr. Dieng, the Director of Hadji Amadou Deme High School for organising his sessions and to Ramatoulaye for facilitating them.
