The paper presents the results of the sixth edition of the survey on the awareness and economic maturity of children and adolescents. It was carried out - as in previous editions - in the form of anonymous questionnaire. All of the respondents were primary and junior high school students participating in extracurricular programs on economic education - Children's University of Economics (EUD) and the Academy of Young Economist (AME). The survey enabled to gather data on three main areas of research: knowledge, skills and attitudes related to economics, finance and entrepreneurship. The results show that the students of EUD and AME appreciate the possibility to participate in extracurricular programs on economic education. The possibility to analyze economic and entrepreneurial problems results in their high familiarity with particular terms and ability to define them (ex. electronic money, privatization, unemployment rate). Moreover, students from both groups estimate their ability to deal with everyday life problems requiring economical knowledge (practical skills) on higher level than their ability to explain economic problems (theoretical skills). The results also show that students' attitudes toward economic issues, such as taking out a bank loan to fund holiday expenses, are unexpectedly mature and based on common sense.
Dynamic changes taking place in the contemporary world, which may be observed in the economy, politics and in the way the society functions, create many challenges to people in every aspect of their lives. One of the main tasks of today’s education is to help young people to obtain the skills necessary for lifelong learning, which will enable them to flexibly adapt to the ever-changing reality and consciously manage their own education, also after leaving school. Therefore, awakening students’ curiosity about the world around them and convincing young people that learning can be a pleasure and passion becomes the main goal of children’s universities. Such initiatives have been acting around the world and also in Poland for many years. The economic education programs aimed at primary school students offered by the Children’s University of Economics (EUD) and the Academy of Young Economist (AME) distinguish them within the rich offer of Polish children’s universities. Their primary goal is to popularize knowledge and build economic awareness among children, to promote entrepreneurial attitudes and to support parents in the appropriate economic education of the young generation. The EUD and AME offerings of extracurricular activities may also contribute to the growth of economic awareness among Poles. The high level of satisfaction of EUD and AME lecturers, as well as the unceasing interest in these activities among children, prove these projects to be a success.
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