The number of delinquents in their 10s and 20s is rapidly on the rise and financial illiteracy among adolescents is emerging as a new social problem in our society. The necessity of financial education for youth is now widely recognized, but domestic ...
The number of delinquents in their 10s and 20s is rapidly on the rise and financial illiteracy among adolescents is emerging as a new social problem in our society. The necessity of financial education for youth is now widely recognized, but domestic financial education, especially in elementary school, is still in the beginning stage, compared to that of advanced nations.
The purpose of this study is to provide basic information for the advancement of financial education. In order to accomplish that, this study identifies the current condition of financial education of elementary school children and analyzes what factors affect their financial literacy.
To support this study in a practical way, a survey was conducted with targeting a group of children in their fourth, fifth and sixth years of elementary school. Statistical data on frequency, means and percentage was used to identify the pervasive trend and characteristics among the respondents, and one-way ANOVA was carried out to see whether related variables made any significant differences in their financial literacy or not.
The major findings of this research are as follows;
First, financial literacy of elementary school children leaned toward specific parts only, and was deficient in financial market part and credit part. The curriculum of financial education should be filled up and reconstructed more systematically.
Second, it has been found out that financial literacy is influenced by personal characteristics, especially the preference for social studies. The result shows that motivating students can help obtain excellent results in financial education. Therefore, the education program should be developed considering students' interest.
Third, the effect of financial education was more influenced by school education than social education or training at home. Thus, school should be needed to take the initiative in financial education.
Fourth, regarding the source of information about financial knowledge, the largest percentage of the respondents obtained informations from mass media. This result means that mass media has to play a important role as the subject of financial education.
Fifth, until now education opportunities from society have been given insufficiently. To make financial education more efficient, a network should be built at a social level, and it is required that government should give more support to that.
Students should receive better financial education from elementary school that is critical for the development of financial consumer qualifications. If sustained efforts are out into improving financial education, capable financial consumers who could better respond to changing situations will be produced.