SMART$
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SMART$ IN YOUR SCHOOL

SMART$ is designed to equip young people with the information, awareness and confidence to make responsible financial choices.

Under the concept ‘Money Mojo’, Life Education Trust has a goal to develop initiatives to support children and young people to develop their financial skills as a core life skill. Money Mojo is consistent with Life Education Trust’s Vision – Inspiring tamariki and rangatahi to make positive choices. The first of these initiatives is SMART$.

Societal challenges
Poor financial literacy is one of the primary contributors to persistent and inter-generational poverty. [Ministry of Social Development]

As a result ongoing life challenges may include:
  • Mental health challenges, substance and alcohol addictions and family violence. [Families Commission]
  • People in financial difficulty are often under considerable stress.
 
Challenges in schools
When it comes to money matters just 14 percent of students said they learned a lot from school, and half said they learnt little or nothing. The majority of the limited financial education in our schools takes place in elective business studies subjects and a small amount in Maths. SMART$ is designed to make that a conversation in schools across all students in all subjects.

The PISA tables assessed NZ’s financial literacy of 15 year old's and used five levels of assessment. Level one is described as students having a basic understanding of money, however, states 'they are not well placed to apply their knowledge to real life situations involving financial issues and decisions':

  • NZ had 50% more level one students than Australia
  • Disparity - 44% of Pasifika students are in level one and Maori at 27%.
 
With financial education largely non-existent or treated as an academic outcome only, such high numbers of young people missing core life skills will continue the inter-generational poverty trap.
 
Why use Theatre-in-Education?
Theatre delivers key messages utilising the well-known education and psychological theory - Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). SCT contends that in addition to direct experiential learning, people learn vicariously by observing models. It’s a tool that can aid a ‘whole of school approach’ enabling the conversations that flow to transcend all subject areas.

This performance encompasses both theatre and an interactive workshop to create a powerful learning medium. Challenging subjects can be tackled effectively while the audience engage in the character’s journey. Extending questions out to audience the in the workshop encourages them to challenge the characters behaviour and choices in a safe learning environment.

How long is the show?
SMART$ consists of a 45-50 min interactive performance with workshop elements for student responses enabling key learning points to be captured during the theatre show.

How is it staged?
The performance is designed to be simple to stage in school halls or auditoriums. Working with audience sizes to a maximum of 180 participants for each show ensures the workshops are effective. Larger schools will be provided with several shows. The SMART$ tour is fully self-contained and uses its own equipment and staging. No set up or school equipment is required.

When is it performed?
Term 2 and 3 – nationwide, Monday to Friday. The tour begins and ends in Auckland and will travel initially to the other main centres, then expanding to provincial areas where possible.

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SMART$ is proudly provided by the Life Education Trust. 
​© Life Education Trust 2020
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