Ukrainian schoolchildren will start studying compulsory entrepreneurship from September 1.

According to inkorr.com: Starting from September 1 of this academic year, a new compulsory subject 'Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy' will be taught in the 8th grades of the New Ukrainian School. This was reported by the press service of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU).

The NBU emphasized that the implementation of this subject has become possible thanks to the bank's efforts over the past ten years to improve the financial literacy of Ukrainians.

Importance of the new subject

NBU Chairman Andriy Pyshny noted that the bank's powers in this area are legally established.

'The introduction of the new subject 'Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy' is a strategic investment in the future of Ukraine. It is not only about gaining theoretical knowledge about money, but also about developing entrepreneurial thinking, understanding the basics of financial management, the ability to work in a team, and responsibly building one's own future,' emphasized the Chairman of the National Bank of Ukraine Andriy Pyshny.

Financial literacy research

In 2024, the Ukrainian Institute of Social Research conducted a study showing that the level of financial knowledge among Ukrainian adolescents is critically low. The study, which covered 97 schools from 19 regions of Ukraine and Kyiv, involved 3,139 students aged 14 to 17. The average score for the case study tasks was only 46.6%, equivalent to 3 points on a 12-point grading scale. This indicates a basic level of financial literacy among teenagers.

Teaching and methodological materials

To ensure quality teaching of the new subject, NBU experts have prepared a set of teaching and methodological materials:

• a textbook and electronic application with interactive tasks recommended by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (Order of the Ministry of Education and Science No. 347 dated 21.02.2025);
• a workbook for students;
• a guide for teachers and calendar-thematic planning;
• presentations for visual support.

Educational initiatives

To support financial literacy development, the NBU has created a free educational platform 'TALAN' Financial Knowledge Center. Here, teachers and students can find interactive tools, practical materials, and methodological recommendations. Educational events such as the Global Money Week are also held annually.

Over three years of the 'TALAN' project, about 45,000 educators have been brought together. More than 40,000 certificates of qualification improvement have been issued, and the platform recorded over 731,000 visits, indicating a great interest among educators in financial literacy.

Future plans

In the 2025/2026 academic year, the subject 'Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy' will be implemented in pilot 9th grades of the New Ukrainian School. In August of this year, more than 100 teachers were prepared to work in these classes, and every willing teacher will be able to take a qualification improvement course for free.

Work is also ongoing on teaching and methodological materials, which will include textbooks, electronic applications, workbooks, and other resources for the 9th grade, as well as the integration of financial literacy into the high school curriculum.