Dear Editor,

I believe it is time for financial literacy to take a serious place in the government’s policies for developing the human resource potential and the human capital of this nation. It is surprising and appalling how many adults entering the work force do not know enough about basic budgeting, interest rates or taxes to make sound decisions for their own lives.

This, compounded by the nation’s poor savings rate and paired with escalating personal debt and a lack of basic financial understanding, will have ramifications beyond forcing young people to tighten their belt to make it to work. This will affect the economy tremendously.

It is time to mandate financial education in public schools. I would love to see some document, bill or policy drafted to encourage financial literacy and the necessary set of skills and knowledge that will allow an individual to make informed decisions through their understanding of finances.

It is key to the people’s survival and the nation’s growth and recovery.

Yannick Nesta Pessoa

cyber_yan@yahoo.com