Can financial literacy become as natural a part of primary education as mathematics or learning about the world around us? The results of the first pilot programme launched by Lithuanian Junior Achievement (LJA) and Devbridge Foundation show that this is not only possible – the change is already taking place in Lithuanian schools.
During the 2025–2026 academic year, Devbridge Foundation and LJA launched the initiative “Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship Lessons for Every Primary School Student.” Its aim was to encourage schools to begin developing these skills from the earliest years of education and give them a clear, consistent place in the curriculum.
Funding from the Foundation enabled 11 Lithuanian schools to train primary school teachers to deliver LJA programmes and equip them with the necessary teaching materials. However, the partnership's main objective went beyond providing training. We wanted to create the conditions for schools to initiate lasting change by embedding financial literacy and entrepreneurship education into everyday teaching.
An Investment That Led to Lasting Change in Schools
A review of the participating schools conducted in October 2026 revealed a significant result: 10 of the 11 schools had already incorporated financial literacy and entrepreneurship lessons into their formal curricula. The remaining school plans to do so in the next academic year.
Schools adopted different approaches to implementation, taking into account the needs of their communities and the practicalities of organising teaching. Some introduced financial literacy as a standalone subject, while others integrated it with computer science or other educational activities.
All 10 schools that incorporated financial literacy into their curricula chose different ways of delivering the lessons. At Klaipėda Hermann Sudermann Gymnasium, financial literacy lessons have been scheduled for all students in grades 1–4 since September 2026. At Riešė Gymnasium, financial literacy is taught alongside computer science, while Jokūbavas Aleksandras Stulginskis School-Multifunctional Centre in Kretinga District has named its new subject “The ABCs of Finance.”
The partnership's impact extended beyond the teachers who initially participated in the training. In some schools, additional teachers became involved in financial literacy education, while at Alytus Likiškėliai Progymnasium, every primary school teacher completed LJA training. This is an important indication that schools are building not just isolated initiatives but communities of educators prepared to sustain long-term change.
Lessons That Teach Children How to Make Decisions
The experience of the pilot schools confirmed that one of the most important factors for success is a clear, practical educational framework tailored to children's ages.
LJA programmes such as “Our Families,” “Our Community,” and “More Than Money” provide teachers with a structured foundation for introducing financial literacy and entrepreneurship concepts through familiar, real-life situations.
During lessons, students discuss money, saving, needs and wants, learn to explain their choices, and practise making thoughtful decisions. Financial literacy education therefore goes far beyond teaching children about money. It helps develop independence, responsibility, and confidence in their ability to make decisions.
“Once you begin, you realise that you're not really teaching children about money. You're teaching them independence, responsibility, how to make choices, and how to think through their decisions. These are skills they will need throughout their lives,” says Roberta Raudonienė, a representative of Alytus Likiškėliai Progymnasium.
Lasting Change Requires More Than Teaching Resources
The first pilot programme demonstrated that teacher training and high-quality educational materials provide a strong foundation, but lasting results also depend on the support of school leadership. It is school leaders' commitment that enables financial literacy education to become a permanent part of the curriculum.
Schools still face challenges. One of the biggest is the limited flexibility to introduce an additional subject into already approved curricula. Funding, teacher readiness, and lesson scheduling also require careful consideration.
Nevertheless, the pilot schools have shown that solutions can be found. Some make use of existing teaching hours, while others begin with extracurricular activities and plan to introduce a dedicated subject in the future.
A First Step Towards Nationwide Change
One of the partnership's most important achievements is that all 11 schools intend to continue their financial literacy and entrepreneurship education activities. This means that Devbridge Foundation's investment, combined with LJA's expertise, has resulted not in a short-term initiative but in tangible changes to how schools deliver education.
The results of the first pilot programme provide a strong foundation for expanding the initiative. Our ambition is to ensure that more and more primary school students across Lithuania have the opportunity to learn financial literacy and entrepreneurship in a consistent, practical way from their very first years at school.
This is an investment not only in what children know today. It is an investment in their ability to think independently, make responsible choices, and shape their own futures.