Welcome to the Reserve Bank of Fiji’s Public Awareness column. This article continues the series of articles on financial education in Fiji and how it contributes to financial inclusion.
The reality for rural students at a boarding school like Namosi Secondary School in the interior of Viti Levu is very different from their urban peers. For one, they don’t have easy access to cash – many of them don’t get pocket or spending money. When they do manage to earn some money and save, they don’t have easy access to banking or investment facilities.
But through the Financial Education they’ve been receiving in their classrooms, these students are learning how to be resourceful by using what’s around them to earn money, set financial goals and save towards them.
Sitela Vadrakula, 14 from Waivaka is one such student. Her family grows and sells root crops and seasonal vegetables like taro and duruka for their livelihood. From the sale of this produce, they’ve started putting $50 aside each week towards her tertiary education.