Kuala lumpur: A total of 2,771 teachers across 12 states have benefitted from the Train-the-Trainer (TTT): Personal Financial Management for Teachers programme, a key initiative under the Financial Industry Collective Outreach (FINCO) since its launch in August last year.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, FINCO reported that the programme, implemented in collaboration with the Financial Education Network (FEN), has recorded an increase in participants' ability to apply financial knowledge from 59 per cent prior to training to 75 per cent post-workshop. FINCO Chairman Tan Sri Azman Hashim highlighted the crucial support from the financial industry and FEN in achieving the programme's outcomes, emphasizing FINCO's commitment to enhancing financial resilience and literacy across Malaysia.
FINCO's statement noted the tangible improvement in teachers' financial well-being and confidence, underscoring the importance of investing in educators as primary conduits for knowledge transfer. The recent FINCO Annual Awards 2025 introduced two new awards to celebrate the TTT programme's progress and recognize dedicated educators and students.
The Outstanding Trainer Icon award was given to six trainers from Port Dickson who achieved exceptional results, including a 49 per cent increase in participant confidence and a 99 per cent satisfaction rate. The Outstanding Caretaker Award was presented to Stalin Juan Anak Thomas from the Sarawak State Education Department for his leadership.
In the 2025 Good SENS (Social Enterprise Network for Schools) National Dragons' Den competition, Team Bags and Books from Sekolah Kebangsaan Rantau Panjang, Selangor, was named Best Overall Social Enterprise 2025. Their project upcycled materials into bags, generating income and supporting the community. Team M.E.I Enterprise from SK Taginambur, Sabah, became the runner-up with their "honesty kiosk" business model.
FINCO CEO Clare Walker noted that primary school students building businesses and championing social causes demonstrate the programme's success in instilling financial principles as foundational life skills. In 2025, Good SENS trained over 430 students and 84 teachers, resulting in 62 social enterprises generating over RM50,000. Teachers played a crucial role in supporting students during the six-month programme.