Representatives from the Ministry of Education, Creative confidence and National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), visited Mohammed Al Shayji School For Boys in Hawalli Governorate, to see the flow of the pilot phase of “Bankee” program.
NBK in collaboration with Creative Confidence and cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Kuwait Anticorruption Authority (Nazaha) launched the pilot phase of “Bankee” program in nine schools (6 public and 3 private) in Kuwait for the academic year 2022-2023.
The program aims to increase financial literacy among students by introducing them to basic economic concepts and practices such as earning, spending and saving through an application (digital bank) using practical methods and engaging environment in the classroom.
“Bankee” is a digital bank where students can access their accounts online to learn the financial responsibilities of paying bills and other financial concepts. Through this application, students as well can join extra-curricular school activities as a part time job to increase their earnings and at the same time their ethical conduct.
The application tends to teach students how to invest in their earnings or spend it through the “school store”. 2,433 students and 507 teachers enrolled in the application up to now.
Manal Al Mattar, Head of Corporate Communications at NBK, said: “Bankee is the first program of its kind devised by NBK for the society, as part of the endeavors to promote financial inclusion, especially among students in schools, in order to ensure increasing and sustaining financial literacy among the members of society in the future”.
Al Mattar noted that NBK has a rich record of active participation in supporting the government’s efforts and community development, as well as its huge social investments in all fields, especially education.
“The Bankee program represents the collaborative efforts of different players in society,” she added. “We firmly believe in the necessity of concerted efforts to achieve that goal, as the responsibility is not limited to the government only, but extends to the entire community, including the family, private sector, and civil society organizations.”
Over those years, NBK has been demonstrating a role model of the private sector’s contribution in supporting development efforts and raising community awareness and participation.
“NBK is committed to supporting all national initiatives for development of education, “AL Mattar said. “Bankee Program reflects the highly advanced techniques of modern education based on interaction and simulation, and focusing on developing behavior and practices as well as enriching knowledge.”
In her turn, the Founder and Managing Director of Creative Confidence, Sumayah Mohamad Al-Jasem expressed her sincere thanks to NBK for their support and collaboration. “We are proud of this strategic partnership that results in supporting and investing in education.”
Al Jasem stated that “Bankee” initiative enables integration of in- and out-of-school learning. The program was developed to simulate values through financial literacy and the applied educational activities to promote and raise awareness about human values and protecting public money.
“The program aims to familiarize students with basic financial terminology and practice like earning, spending and saving money, as well as financial responsibilities while adhering to integrity and values,” she added
“As part of our visits and meetings at schools, parents indicated that their children’s behavior was influenced positively since the commencement of the pilot phase of “Bankee”,” she concluded. “These interactive programs such as “Bankee” will make the schools more attractive for students and will create a seamless integration with the educational material”.
