Dubai:Zoud, the National Financial Wellbeing and Sustainability Initiative, has partnered with HAL Education to deliver a financial literacy programme targeting more than 500 educational institutions across the UAE. This initiative aims to reach 400 schools and 110 universities over a span of two years.

According to Wam, the programme is designed to equip students with practical financial skills, including money management, budgeting, and saving. The goal is to help them make informed financial decisions and prepare for financial independence. Natalia El Menhall, Programme Director at Zoud, emphasized the importance of investing in financial literacy among younger generations to strengthen financial wellbeing in society.

The programme seeks to establish financial literacy as a crucial life skill and integrate it into young people's education from an early age. This initiative will enable students to understand their financial responsibilities and plan for their futures with confidence and independence. Fathima Nazeeha Najimudeen, Founder and CEO of HAL Education, stated that financial literacy is essential for young people to navigate different life stages confidently. The partnership will offer practical learning opportunities for students across the UAE to grasp financial concepts and develop sustainable financial habits.

Structured workshops and practical activities will be part of the extracurricular learning, with content tailored to different age groups and student needs. In the first year, workshops will target students in Grades 7 to 9, expanding in the second year to include Grades 4 to 9. University workshops will cover topics such as budgeting, banking, saving, credit, financial planning, entrepreneurship, and introductory investment principles.

Additionally, the initiative will provide separate sessions for parents and teachers to raise financial awareness and support the integration of financial literacy into family and educational environments. The programme will assess its impact by conducting evaluations before and after workshops to track changes in students' financial understanding. The findings will be used to refine the programme's content and delivery.