Gordon Wyant, Saskatchewan’s Deputy Premier and Education Minister has announced that writing for new financial literacy courses is beginning this month.

The new curriculum will initially be for Grade 11 and 12 students, but teachers at middle-schools will also be able to introduce their students to financial literacy topics using the modules in middle-level practical and applied arts courses.

Local Financial Expert, Aaron Ruston at Purposed Financial, belives this will truly help students once they leave high school.

"I think its going to be totally invaluable," Ruston said. "I think its going to be something that gives some real confidence in handling financial affairs, and hopefully in doing this and understanding finances to a greater degree, may even address some of the escalating debt issues we have in this country."

The curriculum is being written by ministry consultants as well as teachers who apply and are selected by the Ministry of Education in consultation with the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation.

“Our members, the province’s 28 school boards, have adopted recent resolutions in support of developing a personal finance class for high school students and of implementing a provincial strategy to address financial literacy for all students,” Saskatchewan School Boards Association President Dr. Shawn Davidson said. “Increased focus on financial literacy has also been a theme commonly identified by students in scholarship essays we have received and student panels we have hosted in recent years.”

The Saskatchewan School Boards Association and the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce have been in support of seeing financial literacy as part of curriculum for several years.

“Financial literacy is critical for personal and business success and as such, the Saskatchewan Chamber has long been advocating for specific classes on this subject,” Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce CEO Steve McLellan said. “Therefore we very much applaud the work of the Ministry of Education and this announcement . We believe Saskatchewan will soon be graduating a much more financially literate young person which is a very positive move for our economy, our students and our communities overall. Making sure that Saskatchewan’s youth are equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to make responsible financial decisions now and for the future is vital."

Ruston believes that schools should also enlist the help of financial experts, to make sure not to strain teachers with learning a new curriculum.

"I've been very blessed to help a little bit at Sask Polytech with some of their economic classes," Ruston said "I think its a responsibility of financial people to step up and to help these kids. i think the fact that if we could do it on a free basis for the school, I think its good because I see it as invaluable for the kid."

He said that its hard to help people have a higher understanding in financial literacy and finances if they don't have the basic understanding that  schools could now offer.

The plan is for the pilot program to start next school year and full implementation is expected to take around two years.