The BCRA has been implementing educational and community activities to promote the development of financial skills.
Our financial education programs were tailored to the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and mainly developed virtually.
The major activities currently developed are as follows:
Within the framework of the program “We Keep on Educating”, the BCRA together with the Argentine Ministry of Education has led a financial education campaign, which resorts to a series of tutorials to promote the use of debit cards; the management of security codes for ATMs and for non-bank cash withdrawal points; the use of online banking and management of passwords; and digital wallets for the payment of services.
Since mid-May 2020, audiovisual programs have been broadcast, on several occasions, on the Argentine television channel, as well as on the channels called Encuentro and Paka Paka with a view to disseminating information even among people having no access to internet.
In addition, they have been posted on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram of the BCRA and of the Argentine Ministry of Education.
Videos:
How to Withdraw Cash Without Going to the Bank
How to Withdraw Cash Without Going to the Bank
How to Pay Services through Online Banking
How to Withdraw Cash Without a Debit Card or Bank Account
How to Manage Passwords at ATMs
Financial Planning and Saving Habits
Fake News and New Online Scams
Audiovisual programs will be updated from time to time.
In 2020, the BCRA along with the Ministries of Education of Catamarca and San Luis organized a Virtual Training on Financial Education for Teachers. This two-month course was intended for teachers, both in Economics and related courses, such as Administration, Citizenship and Labor, Financial Math, and Accounting Information Systems.
Teachers had an initial training through a digital platform whereby they became acquainted with the course structure and work method. Afterwards, they shared their experiences at follow up and closing virtual meetings.
Teachers received educational guides and videos developed along with the Argentine Ministry of Education. Once they tailored the material to their own courses, they sent it to their students through different means.
In Catamarca, 60% of the 202 participants teach in the following towns of the interior of the province: Alijilán, Ancasti, Andalgalá, Antofagasta de la Sierra, Bañado de Ovanta, Belén, Capital, Chumbicha, Colonia del Valle, Colonia Nueva Coneta, El Alto, El Bañado, El Rodeo, Fiambalá, Huillapima, Icaño, La Merced, Las Esquinas, Las Tejas, Los Altos, Medanitos, Miraflores, Mutquin, Pomán, Puerta del Corral Quemado, Quirós, Recreo, San Antonio, San Isidro, Santa María, Saujil, Siján, Tapso, Tinogasta. Out of the 34 towns, 27 are rural areas.
In turn, in San Luis, 52% of the 237 participants teach in the following towns of the interior of the province: Arizona, Candelaria, Capital, Carpintería, Concarán, Cortaderas, El Volcán, La Punta, La Toma, Luján, Juana Koslay, Merlo, Naschel, Nogoli, Nueva Galia, Quines, San Francisco, San Luis, Santa Rosa, Tilisarao, Unión, Villa de la Quebrada, Villa Larca, Villa Mercedes and Zanjitas. Out of the 26 towns, 9 are rural areas.
The teachers, supported by the BCRA, developed a project for students to share the knowledge and skills acquired with people close to them, such as their family, older adults, and neighbors. In practice, every teacher worked with a group of around 25 students who, in turn, shared their knowledge with 55 people in each group, on average.
The BCRA will endeavor to keep on making arrangements with other provinces with a view to providing them with training on financial education across Argentina.
The program Financial Skills for Life aims at developing students’ skills to interact with other parties within the financial system in a rational and responsible way.
The program has been conducted since 2017 in cooperation with educational authorities of the provinces. Up to now, the program was developed in the provinces of Catamarca, Córdoba and Neuquén. During the program, secondary school teachers were trained to teach students how to develop and finance a project. Moreover, students should share their knowledge with the community through different means, such as microradio, information videos, presentations in squares, talks to other students or senior citizens.
During 2020, the training for teachers and students was developed virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.