Mandatory Financial Literacy Coming to High Schools in Brampton and Beyond

You might have complained about (or heard others complain about) how financial skills need to be taught in schools.

You might have complained about (or heard others complain about) how financial skills need to be taught in schools. Some upgrades have been made to the Ontario curriculum to ensure students are getting that content, but now, one high school course in particular is about to get a major upgrade.

If you went to, or are going to, high school in Ontario, you might remember the career studies course most students are required to take in grade 10. 

Now, Ontario is enhancing that grade 10 career studies course – starting September 2018 – to better equip students for careers and (hopefully, if the additional material has successful learning outcomes) give them the knowledge that some adults who went to public school pine for.

The career studies course is undergoing a full revamp, according to the province, designed to provide students with “the knowledge and tools employers are looking for.”

Budgeting and financial management will be covered, as well as career pathway planning, innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship, and digital literacy.

“Our focus is on how to best prepare Ontario students to succeed in this constantly changing, technology-driven world. By providing students with an enhanced career studies course, mandatory financial literacy and offering more hands-on learning opportunities, students can gain the skills they need to succeed now and in the future,” said Mitzie Hunter, minister of education.

That’s not all – hands-on learning is a huge focus in the Ontario government’s plan for schools in the near future.

“Every school board across the province will hire a new and dedicated coordinator, whose key role will be to expand learning opportunities with community partners, for all grades, courses and programs – from kindergarten to adult learners,” said the province in a statement.

As for the career studies course improvements, the province used research from 29 pilot projects across the province, and stakeholder feedback, in its redesign.

The province is investing over $10 million per school year over four school years to create more community-connected, experiential learning opportunities.

Hopefully, more courses will be infused with more life skills in the future.