Letshego�s financial literacy campaign reaches seven schools

Staff Writer | Monday September 14, 2015 14:40

 

After taking their financial literacy campaigns to northern schools through the recently held national ICT Fair in Palapye, seven Gaborone schools, including Gaborone Senior Secondary school with 131 teachers, were targeted between August and early September.

According to marketing manager  Dimakatso Polokelo, Letshego Financial Services Botswana (LFSB) is embarking on a nationwide campaign to sensitise and educate the working class and populace on financial literacy.

“This initiative was conceived after the realisation that personal finances are mismanaged resulting in over-indebtedness, more especially by civil servants. This is a topical problem that has been observed to be a national concern and comes as part of Letshego’s Financial Inclusion initiative in support of the government’s agenda”, she explained.

 Letshego’s financial literacy campaign in schools is targeting the teachers.  The teachers are being inspired to increase their sources of income or earnings by writing books for instance.

Letshego’s financial literacy consultant Nelson Letshwene says he has already published his fourth book, by consistently writing book material of 600 words per week. He challenged the teachers to crack their heads and investigate what else they can do for a living besides their day jobs.

The Letshego consultant also advised the teachers that saving part of their earnings should be a common thing among workers.

He explained that a portion of what one earns should be theirs to keep, stressing that savings guarantees that the money won’t disappear.

The Letshego consultant advised against spending money on lifestyle things instead of valuable assets such as property.

He advised that when they have accumulated property, and savings, it is also important to insure such to protect them from unforeseen calamities.

Teachers were also advised against sharing borrowed money. “ Often times people like sharing with their friends and relatives before they have accumulated any wealth, helping with borrowed money, being stingy with a purpose is vital in the game of money”.

Interestingly most of the teachers alluded to the fact that when money comes, the urge to go shopping, to spoil yourself, is irresistible. The teachers were advised that it is never too late to start proper financial planning. The Letshego financial literacy campaign reached  Bosele, Boitumelo, Ithuteng, Botsalano, Thebe, Batlokwa, and GSS.

After visiting schools, the campaign is now  being rolled out to the various government agencies, according to Letshego.