This is 2014 presentation summing up Polish experience in the implmentation of the national information and educational programs in the area of economic and financial education. The chosen initiatives focus more on personal finance competencies and financial literacy of the Polish society. The presentation was given in Volgograd, Russian Federation, on September 8, 2014.

1. Volgograd, September 8-9, 2014
Inter-regional Conference «Improving Financial Literacy: Best Practices and Perspectives»
POLISH EXPERIENCE IN
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
NATIONAL INFORMATION
AND EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAMS
Marcin Polak
Futuredu Consulting & Think! Foundation
Warsaw, Poland
Photo: Fotolia.com

2. Index
 Introduction with PISA 2012
 Financial education in Poland
 Financial literacy initiatives - cases
 How to design programs?
 What more is important
Photo: sxc.hu

3. NOT ONLY FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE
 Openess for learning (yes, I can learn that)
 Motivation for learning (ok, I will start to learn)
 Awareness (I understand that I need to...)
 Self-control, self-discipline, improving (I can't do
that... but I can do that...)
Financial Literacy is about
MENTAL CHANGE & BEHAVIOUR

4. INTRODUCTION - PISA 2012
The PISA financial literacy
assessment provides an
overall picture of 15-year-olds’
ability to apply their
accumulated knowledge
and skills to real-life
situations involving financial
issues and decisions.
Poland has got a good score in PISA 2012 Students and Money Results, getting above
the OECD average. Somehow that was a surprise for many educators.

5. INTRODUCTION - PISA 2012
Poland scored above the OECD average...

6. INTRODUCTION - PISA 2012
Poland has a poor curriculum for financial education and least number of hours for it...

7. INTRODUCTION - PISA 2012
In most cases teachers provide financial education for students in Polish schools...

8. INTRODUCTION - PISA 2012
... but it seems they are rather unprepared for that task.

9. INTRODUCTION - PISA 2012
 In case of Poland it is not school that was responsible
for good results of students in PISA 2012 test
 Financial education in school is important but this is only an
introduction to the world of finance. What a student learns is
basic financial knowledge which may have rather a limited
influence on performance of citizens later in real life and
in front of real financial problems
 There are probably other channels of social education,
which are responsible for good performance of people in the
financial market

10. FINANCIAL EDUCATION IN POLAND
 Poland – an interesting case on the financial literacy world
map, with a long development in that field (since 2002)
 No National Strategy – the Government has never be
interested in promoting financial literacy in organized way.
No single coordination office for nationwide FL campaign
 The leading role of the central bank – the National Bank of
Poland (NBP) has its educational strategy (6y perspectives)
and objectives (yearly plans). Since 2002 it spends c.a. 4-5
Million EUR on the economic and financial education annualy

11. FINANCIAL EDUCATION IN POLAND
 As there is a good climate for FL initiatives, many private
sector programs developed thanks to the financial support
from the NBP & the financial market institutions
 There is quite a lot of information for financial
consumers in the mass media (including reports and
analyses of economic journalists) and in the internet
 Effective supervision of the financial market for the benefit
of financial consumers by the Polish Financial Supervision
Authority and Office of Competition and Consumer
Protection

12. FINANCIAL EDUCATION IN POLAND
 The effectiveness of overall FL initiatives is somehow
monitored by many public (NBP) and private (mostly big
banks) public opinion surveys and academic research
 One of the most comprehensive approach is from the
Kronenberg Foundation – every year since 2008 it has a
survey published in September/October with focus on
financial knowledge and behavour of Poles (age 15+)
 Overall, there is a little progress in improving financial
knowledge of the society every year, but financial
decisions of Poles are in most cases quite reasonable (there
are still challenges, like e.g. long term savings)

13. FINANCIAL LITERACY INITIATIVES
 Variety of initiatives (in hundreds) since 2002
 Various target groups and subjects, various levels (also
for professionals)
 In long term perspective most of impact on developing of
mass media and internet programs
(including interactive and multimedia
production)
 Both grassroots and
nationwide coordinated
activities

14. EDUCATION THROUGH MASS MEDIA

15. EDUCATION PROGRAMS
EDUCATION THROUGH MASS MEDIA
 Most of popular press and many radio media covered
(liberal, conservative, independent etc.)
 All initiatives addressed to adults, most for working
people, but also for seniors & pensioners. Pragmatic
approach (discussing real problems)
 In the press: usually inserts, as a separate publication
or a part of the newspaper (a column). Radio interviews
with experts on various aspects of financial literacy
 From many research it is clear that consumers learn
from mass media at first (and sometimes it is the main
source for financial information for them)
more at: http://www.nbp.pl/home.aspx?f=/edukacja/dodatki_edukacyjne.html

16. TV EEDDUUCTAAITNIOMNE NPTR OPRGORGARMASMS
NATIONAL TEST ON ECONOMIC KNOWLEDGE

17. EDUCATION PROGRAMS
TV EDUTAINMENT PROGRAMS
 National Test Of Economic Knowledge, first
conducted in 2006, then 2012 and 2014 (every 2 years
now) – one of the largest initiatives of the NBP
 TV show in prime time on the Channel 1 of the TVP
(public television) – up to 2 Million viewers (AMR), media
stars & politicians, students & consumers involved in
solving the test
 Winners get serious prizes (nearly 7500 EUR)
 Increase of knowledge among participants (6-10%)
more at: http://wielkitestwiedzyekonomicznej2.tvp.pl/

18. EDUCATION PROGRAMS
PLEBANIA
TV SERIES
HOTEL 52 KLAN
PIERWSZA MIŁOŚĆ
HOTEL 52

19. EDUCATION PROGRAMS
TV SERIES
 NBP started to use Polish TV series as the channel for
economic education of the society in 2006. TV series in
Poland are most popular TV programs with millions of
fans, so that is very good channel to disseminate
economic knowledge
 The educational message is placed in dialogues
between TV series heros, and sometimes a separate
story is written to cover some issues. In that way people
see that their heros also have similar financial problems
and try to solve them. So they learn a lot that way
 NBP involved in many most popular Polish series: Klan,
Plebania, M jak Miłość, Pierwsza miłość, Hotel 52 etc.
many episodes become later accessible through internet platforms or mobile apps

20. EDUCATIBOLNO PGRSOGRAMS

21. EDUCATION PROGRAMS
BLOGS
 There are many bloggers in Poland who write on personal
finance issues and share their knowledge and opinions
with consumers
 One of the most important economic journalist from
Gazeta Wyborcza – Maciej Samcik – started to write a
blog in 2009. This is now one of the most influential and
popular channel of financial knowledge
 Results are impressive (2013): over 1600 posts since the
beginning, 15,4 Million views, monthly c.a. 350 thousand
visits (150 thousand unique users)
 Focus only on issues important for financial consumers

22. INTEERDNUECT AWTEIOBNS IPTREOS G&RPAOMRSTALS

23. EDUCATION PROGRAMS
INTERNET WEBSITES & PORTALS
 National Bank of Poland is NBPortal.pl – the Portal for
Economic Education – probably the largest economic
education resource worldwide
 Very broad approach: e-learning courses, online
games, multimedia presentations, scenarios for lessons,
articles, economic dictionary = large knowledge base
 NBPortal was popular source for economic and financial
knowledge – in the peak period there were over 100.000
learners in the e-learning courses and monthly nearly
100.000 internet users visiting portal; over 7 Million
unique users till end of 2013.
more at: www.nbportal.pl

24. INTEEDRUNCEATT IMOONV PIERSOG&R VAIRMASLS

25. EDUCATION PROGRAMS
INTERNET MOVIES & VIRALS
 In order to spread financial knowledge most effective we
need to choose internet as a channel for disseminating
the message in a popular form: short movies
 In years 2009-2012 over 1000 short movies on personal
finance issues were produced by students in several
internet projects: Nakręcona ekonomia, Tydzień dla
oszczędzania, Złotówki bez gotówki.
 Great short movies with thousands of views in
YouTube. In 90 second students had to present a topic
and explain (most did in a funny way) how to take care of
financial resources, what is good, and what is risky etc.
more at: www.youtube.com & http://millionyou.com/projects/archive/35

26. FIRST MSIILMLUIOLNA T(PIOIENR GWASMZEYS MILION)

27. FIRST MILLION (PIERWSZY MILION)
SIMULATION GAMES
 Simulation games help financial consumers to test
various consequences in a safe mode of virtual reality
 Pierwszy Milion (First Milion) is a simulation game
developed by the Kronenberg Foundation by Citibank in
Poland, which is used as a tool for learning proper
financial behaviour (mainly students at universities).
Over 30 thousand players so far.
 The role of users is to live, work, save, invest and learn
in order to save in the game 1 milion PLN as quick as
possible. But a player must take care not only for money
but for happiness & education too (personal
development). So the money must help to achieve it.
more at: http://www.1milion.edu.pl/pl/site.html

28. WEIKDIPUECDAITAIO&N S PORCOIAGLR MAEMDSIA

29. EDUCATION PROGRAMS
WIKIPEDIA & SOCIAL MEDIA
 In education Wikipedia is the most important source for
information. Same for Polish students. And same when it
concerns economic and financial issues (many hundred
thousand visits altogether)
 In the project Wiki-Ekonomia my company has, in
cooperation with NBP, evaluated and improved 300
economic definitions. There were many mistakes or
problematic issues in that part of material. The definitions
has been sometimes rewritten
 Social media must be included in financial literacy,
especially where people seek for economic knowledge
more at: https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Projekty_instytucjonalne/Wiki-Ekonomia

30. EDUCAETDIOUNC APTRIOOGNR PARMOSG IRNA SMCSHOOLS

31. EDUCATION PROGRAMS
EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS
 In the informal education there were many school
programs addressed to students, but the largest one
was Tydzień dla oszczędzania (Savings Week), which
aim was to focus on financial education in schools in
October (31st October – World Savings Day)
 In years 2007-2013 students of middle level schools
organised and participated in hundreds events focusing
on personal finance issues. Nearly 200.000 students
participated in special designed lessons and
competitions. They have created movies (750), posters,
adverts for promoting savings, multimedia presentations,
blogs (118 in 2013).
more at: http://tdo.edu.pl/

32. INTERAECDTUICVAET TIOONO LPSR OFOGRR ALMEASRNING

33. EDUCATION PROGRAMS
INTERACTIVE TOOLS FOR LEARNING
 Consumers and students must have access to good
quality open materials where they can learn about
personal finance, when they need to. There are plenty of
websites which offer online presentations on various
topics
 Such tools like Lekcja ekonomii and Lekcja
oszczędzania were distributed to several thousand
schools as a tool to support a teacher in lessons on
personal finance
more at: http://tdo.edu.pl/lekcjeonline/

34. EDEUDCUACTAINTGIOKNI DPSR O& GPRAARMENSTS

35. EDUCATION PROGRAMS
EDUCATING KIDS & PARENTS
 Szkolne Kasy Oszczędności (SKO) is the oldest
financial education program in Europe (initiated in
20.ties of 20th centuries). Now it was completely
retructured by the largest Polish bank PKO Bank Polski
with a mission to educate pupils in primary schools (6-13
years) and their parents on fundamentals of savings
 This program is present in over 5000 schools in
Poland. An innovation is that in connection with other
program PKO Junior, parents can open a bank account
for their kids. Once opening account children learn how
to plan their finances and save money in the bank (no
costs at all). Over 150 thousands accounts were opened
till end of 2013.
more at: https://sko.pkobp.pl/

36. EDUCAETDINUGC ATTEIAOCNH PERROSG &R SATMUSDENTS
MOJE FINANSE

37. EDUCATION PROGRAMS
EDUCATING TEACHERS & STUDENTS
 Moje Finanse (My Finance) is the largest FL program in
Polish schools with the aim to prepare young people
(age of 17-19) to manage their personal finances. It is
developed by Junior Achievement, NBP and Kronenberg
Foundation
 15 lessons cycle or 3 one-day interclass workshops (the
form at school depends on local situation). Over 970.000
students participated in the program (2004-2013);
13.000 teachers were trained to organize lessons on
personal finance
 Positive results from evaluation: average increase of
knowledge of participants from 5 to 11%
more at: http://www.moje-finanse.junior.org.pl/

38. EDUCAETDINUGC ASTTIUODNE PNRTOSG BRYA BMASNKERS

39. EDUCATION PROGRAMS
EDUCATING STUDENTS BY BANKERS
 This is a special case – employees from various banks
became volunteers in a common initiative of the banker
sector and started to teach students in middle level
schools on personal finance
 A new initiative with 40 volunteers and 25 schools
covered in 2013, but it has a great potential if there
would be more volunteer-bankers ready to go to schools
 The program was very well received by students (90% of
positive marks)
more at: http://bakcyl.wib.org.pl/

40. PUBEDLIUCC CAATMIOPNA PIGRNOSG -RAADMUSLTS

41. EDUCATION PROGRAMS
PUBLIC CAMPAIGNS - ADULTS
 There were few educational campaigns in Poland, but
one was extremely successful and effective: Zanim
podpiszesz (Before you sign). It started after a series
of unfair market practices which affected budgets of
many people
 Common initiative of public institutions: NBP,
Financial Supervision Authority, Office for Protection of
Competition and Consumers, Police, Bank Guarantee
Fund, Ministry of Finance & Ministry of Justice
 Distribution of materials, leaflets, spots, media programs
with a clear message – don't sign any financial
contracts if you are not sure. Focus on seniors.
more at: http://www.zanim-podpiszesz.pl/

42. EDEUDCUACTAIOTINN GPR AODGURLTASMS
MONAR: ABC OF THE
HOME BUDGETS,
SAVING
AND LENDING

43. EDUCATION PROGRAMS
EDUCATING ADULTS
 MONAR Education Program for people in difficult life
circumstances and who may be socially excluded,
are homeless, living with AIDS or addicted to alcohol
and drugs (since 2011). Support from the NBP.
 Training the staff of therapists in basic issues of Home
Economics in order to deliver professional advice
services and organise workshops for MONAR .
 Positive results: over 750 persons in workshops (3
editions). Increase in financial planning month ahead
(from 24% up to 70% of partcipants, motivation for
saving (from 6,1% to 64%). Aware that as poor and
homeless people they need financial education.
more at: http://www.monar.org/

44. DESIGNING PROGRAMS
 Pragmatic approach to personal finance - the Wallet
Education - talk about finance as about the money in
wallets of the target group
 Show all economics in action. Limited theory, practical
approach. Show relations between a consumer's
wallet and a particular economic mechanism
 Use arguments based on a reason and logic
(opportunities), don’t afraid to shock by showing possible
negative consequences (threats)
 Play with education – it can not be boring message. Try
edutainment and make people think FL is fun
Photo: sxc.hu

45. DESIGNING PROGRAMS
 Although public institutions engagement is important,
explore the social energy in the private sector (including
mass media). Build coalitions at national and regional/local
levels
 Involve media and internet channels to spread economic
knowledge - 21st Century learning process is not a text
education. It is rather visual and hipertext education
 Always build internet platforms where people can find out
more information and which would offer useful resources for
study
Photo: sxc.hu

46. DESIGNING PROGRAMS
 Develop programs with mass media. They are major
actors in the financial literacy of the society in long term
perspective
 Training: first of all – train the trainers and knowledge
disseminators (journalists, teachers, academicians,
social leaders)
 Develop education programs in various forms (online,
offline, training, seminar, workshops, internet channels,
media programs etc.) for many social groups. Multiply
the message in various channels - reaching target
groups from many directions
Photo: sxc.hu

47. WHAT IS CRUCIAL?
 Do marketing. Education without social marketing is
less effective. Significant part of the budget should be
for marketing and promotion
 Networks! People are connected to social networks for
most of a day (and night) – it changed the way we as
people learn today. Build and use it (in the internet too)
 Repeat the same message again and again (learning
curve). Multiply it in different tools and programs
 No economic jargon – clear message to ordinary
financial consumers

48. SUMMING UP
 Improving financial literacy of the society is not a linear
process with a standard set of tools
 We need not only to begin financial education at
schools, but to strenghten and develop financial
knowledge of adults – parents, employees, seniors.
Families (and friends) are important source for financial
information and in many case home is the place where
young people learn most on personal finance
 It seems to me, that to reach adults the most effective
way is through mass media and internet. People need
easy, at one click, access to financial education
resources, and we need to develop it at first

49. www.economiceducator.eu

50. THANK YOU!
 Financial Literacy is a life skill and helps to avoid
various mines... :-)
Marcin Polak
Futuredu & Think! Foundation
Warsaw, Poland
marcin.polak [at] futuredu.pl

51. Marcin Polak
 Marcin Polak was the Head of the Economic Education in the National
Bank of Poland (2002-2007), being responsible for strategic planning and
implementation of the nationwide and international economic education and
financial literacy projects. These initiatives were addressed, among others,
to schools, libraries, students, teachers, journalists, priests, judges, as well
as, through the mass media, to general public opinion.
 He is involved in the cooperation with Russian institutions implementing
Financial Education and Financial Literacy Program since its launching. He
was involved in preparing the concept for the Regional Financial Education
Center in Kaliningrad.
 Since 2008 President of the Board of the Think Global Ltd., founder of the
Think! Foundation, owner and publisher of the Edunews.pl - one of the
largest educational web sites in Poland (>715 thousand users) promoting
modern education programs and tools for the education sector as well as
EconomicEducator.eu - international platform for economic and financial
educators and experts. He was a member of the European Commission
Expert Group on the Financial Education.