Vision Group, Eswatini educationists to front financial literacy

_________________

Vision Group and educationists from southern Africa-based Kingdom of Eswatini have emphasized the critical role of financial literacy and media in improving learning outcomes among students.

During a benchmarking meeting at Vision Group headquarters in Kampala city on March 7, 2025, stakeholders shared insights on the impact of financial literacy projects and the significance of media in enhancing education systems.

The discussions revolved around ongoing curriculum transformations, the necessity of collaboration in education and how integrating financial literacy into learning could shape more financially responsible citizens.

The meeting was also attended by representatives from the Private Education Development Network (PEDN), which has partnered with Vision Group to promote financial literacy in Ugandan schools.

Media as a tool for education

Vision Group head of media in education Esther Arinaitwe emphasized how newspapers and the media influence students' cognitive abilities.

“Many of the schools we’ve worked with previously struggled with poor academic performance. But once newspapers were introduced, students became more engaged in reading, comprehension improved and their knowledge of current affairs broadened,” she said.

Arinaitwe added that media not only benefits students but also their families.

“When students take newspapers home, they don’t read alone. Parents engage with them, and this strengthens the learning experience at home,” she said.

Impact of financial literacy programmes

Arinaitwe reviewed the impact of the Private Education Development Network-Vision Group Financial Literacy Project, which has been instrumental in nurturing a savings culture and financial discipline among students.

She provided data on the programme’s impact.

“In the first term, our students collectively saved shillings 6,489,300, and by the second term, this figure had almost doubled to 12,584,200. The highest individual saver managed 118,000, which is remarkable for young learners,” Arinaitwe added.

According to her, beyond savings, students are also learning practical skills.

“So far, 2,005 learners have been trained in liquid soap making, branding and marketing. We want them to transition from financial dependency to financial independence,” she stated.

Lessons from Eswatini’s education system

The delegation from Eswatini highlighted the importance of embedding financial literacy into national curricula.

One of the representatives, Musa Hlophe, said: “Education in Africa has long been shaped by colonial structures. Now, we are reforming it to prepare students for real-world financial challenges. Uganda’s progress in financial literacy is something we want to replicate back home”. 

He also commended Vision Group and PEDN for their approach, saying, “the involvement of media in education is a powerful model. We’ve seen how newspapers are used as learning materials here, and this is something we must consider adopting in Eswatini,” Hlophe stated.

Strengthening partnerships for the future

The meeting concluded with a call for stronger collaborations.

“Education is evolving. We need to innovate, integrate financial literacy into ICT and media, and expose students to real-world financial concepts,” said a Vision Group representative.

Vision Group's CEO, Don Wanyama, echoed that “the media serves as a critical bridge between education and financial empowerment. If we harness it well, we will equip the next generation with the skills they need to thrive economically.”

As discussions wrapped up, stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to leveraging media and financial education to equip young people with the necessary skills to navigate the modern economic landscape.