The challenges facing the economic education system in Poland today, the courage to set goals and strive to achieve them, and the cooperation between public institutions and non-governmental organizations in implementing the National Financial Education Strategy – a document adopted by the Polish government exactly one year ago – were the main topics of the conference "Economic Education Yesterday – Today – Tomorrow," which took place on June 25 of this year at the National Center for Economic Education in Warsaw.
The National Center for Economic Education gathered representatives from public administration, universities, the financial sector, and organizations and institutions that daily engage in economic, financial, and entrepreneurship education. Due to its date, the conference was not only an opportunity to summarize what had been achieved during the Strategy's first year of operation, but above all, a starting point for discussion on the actions that should be consistently implemented in the coming years. Much attention was paid to the need to expand cooperation and coordinate activities to ensure the implementation of the KSEF goals involves diverse groups.
Shared vision, shared responsibility
During the conference, a common message from groups involved in developing Poles' economic competencies resonated strongly: the process of economic education – a tool for implementing the KSEF – requires well-prepared people in various institutions, stable funding, and the courage to pursue set goals across all boundaries. Good economic education is a bridge to the financial security and well-being of society. While appreciating the role of the Council for Financial Education and the Ministry of Finance, as well as the directional decisions of the Ministry of Education, the event participants also highlighted numerous challenges.
The conference opened with an introductory panel on the role of economic education and entrepreneurship in the context of Poland's Development Strategy 2035. Participants emphasized the crucial role an economically aware society, with a thorough understanding of the operating principles of the economy and the financial world, plays in the country's economic development. It was recognized that effective implementation of a long-term development strategy is impossible without financial, economic, and entrepreneurship education.
The event agenda also included discussions on the opportunities facing economic education.
in Poland, key projects and good practices in this area, and practical economic education for children, youth, adults, and seniors. Appreciating recent activities within the National Financial Education Strategy, participants emphasized the need to scale up activities through, among other things, faster activation of the Financial Education Fund, including through competitions supporting the organization of educational projects implemented by non-governmental organizations.
One of the key themes of the discussions was support for practical entrepreneurship education in schools and non-governmental organizations, including through necessary legislative changes that will facilitate the establishment and management of student cooperatives and the implementation of similar activities within non-governmental organizations. Appropriate provisions and proposals included in the preparation of graduate profiles and core curricula should undoubtedly be the foundation for this.
Personal financial planning, cybersecurity, long-term saving
and investing, entrepreneurial attitudes in everyday life and the importance of sustainable development
and financial health – these were just a few of the topics raised during the discussion. It was also agreed that June 25th will become a permanent fixture in the calendar of the National Center for Economic Education as a day for joint review and support for the implementation of the National Financial Education Strategy.
The Year of Economic Education recognized by the Financial Education Council
On the same day, the Ministry of Finance hosted a ceremony recognizing the Financial Education Council. A special award was presented to the initiative of six non-governmental organizations – the "Year of Economic Education 2024," established by a resolution of the Senate of the Republic of Poland and supported by numerous public and private entities. These awards have been presented for five years to initiatives that contribute significantly to the development of society's financial literacy.
KCEE's Role – Coordination and Support
As the conference organizers noted, the National Center for Economic Education, established as an alliance of non-governmental organizations on January 14, 2025, in the Senate of the Republic of Poland, continues the ideas and activities of the Year of Economic Education. Today, its core comprises 12 organizations. This unique initiative is becoming a platform for cooperation and a knowledge center for financial and economic education in Poland. Its key activities already include: conducting research and analysis on economic education, training for educators and teachers, workshops for children and youth, practical projects for adults and seniors, and creating a database of economic education projects, research, and analysis, all within the framework of 10 working groups.
More information at: www.kcee.edu.pl
