The Urgency of School Financial Literacy: Paving the Way for a Financially Resilient Generation

Financial literacy serves as a crucial base that affects the caliber of monetary choices individuals make throughout their lives. Nevertheless, information from the OCBC NISP Financial Fitness Index reveals that financial literacy in Indonesia is still quite limited, potentially causing an inability to handle resources and make well-planned economic choices. Consequently, boosting financial literacy should start early, particularly at the primary school stage, to foster saving habits and understanding of fundamental financial ideas before negative financial practices take hold. Numerous studies, including those by Arianti (2022), Kezar & Yang (2010), Nizam et al., (2023), and Rochendi et al., (2022), indicate that primary students who get basic financial education can differentiate between necessities and desires more successfully, laying the groundwork for sensible consumption habits. Furthermore, using engaging learning tools like role-playing or board games has been demonstrated to improve knowledge retention about financial management. As a result, introducing a well-organized financial literacy program in primary schools can be an effective preventive measure to stop harmful financial decisions and lower the likelihood of economic problems later on.