The Ministry of Finance, through its Financial Sector Development Department, has been providing financial education to various community groups in Tanga as part of the ongoing Financial Services Week celebrations at Usagara Grounds.
The initiative aims to equip citizens with financial literacy and empower them to participate fully in economic activities.
Grace Muiyaza, a Financial Management Officer from the Ministry of Finance, said the training targets public servants, small business owners, entrepreneurial groups, ordinary citizens, and students from primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.
“We are here to provide training to all community groups in Tanga. Our goal is to build financial awareness and enable people to participate effectively in economic activities,” she said.
During the session, students from Usagara Primary School were introduced to personal financial management.
Muiyaza emphasized that financial education is essential for children, who receive money from various sources, including their parents.
“Children also receive money for their daily needs, so it is important to teach them early how to manage it to achieve both short-term and long-term goals,” she added.
The session was interactive, and students showed a good understanding of basic financial management, particularly the importance of saving.
Some students receive more money than their immediate school needs, providing an opportunity to develop the habit of saving early.
Muiyaza also urged parents and guardians to guide their children on proper financial practices, including using secure saving systems rather than unsafe methods like piggy banks or hiding money under beds.
“We still face a challenge where people save money in informal and unsafe ways. We encourage parents and the wider community to use banks, community-based savings groups, mobile financial services, and investment companies,” she said.
For her part, Salma Rajabu, a sixth-grade student, said the lesson opened her eyes to the importance of saving and keeping money in safe places.
“Before, I used to keep money in a piggy bank or under the bed, but now I know it is safer to use banks or mobile accounts. I will also educate my parents and ask them to open a savings account for me,” she said.
Another student, Hassan Mohamed, added that the lesson helped him understand the importance of saving for the future and how to advise his parents to use safe ways to store money.
The Financial Services Week celebrations continue in Tanga, aiming to enhance public understanding of financial services and strengthen financial inclusion across all community groups.
