Teaching children and young people how to manage money is no longer just a supplementary topic; it is increasingly becoming a necessity in Brazilian schools. In a country where a large portion of the adult population struggles to keep up with their bills, discussing finances from an early age means offering future generations the chance to develop a healthier relationship with money.

One example is the work of Malu Lira, a 15-year-old from Amazonas, who has already written 20 books on the subject and created the “Malu na Escola” Program, which offers a structured methodology adapted to the realities of elementary and middle school students. The program combines stories, creative activities, and entrepreneurship fairs to spark the interest of children and teenagers in the subject.

“We always say that children and young people are the future of Brazil. But if we want a more prosperous future, we need to prepare them starting now. School is our second home; it’s where we learn things that will stay with us for the rest of our lives. And financial education needs to be part of that foundation. It doesn’t matter whether or not the family talks about money at home—everyone will have to deal with it. That’s why it’s so important to start learning early on in school,” says Malu Lira, financial educator and CEO of Grupo Malu Finanças.

One of the challenges facing schools is making financial education accessible, practical, and engaging for students. Malu argues that the key lies in combining playfulness, storytelling, and student participation.

“I believe above all in playfulness, games, challenges, and storytelling. That way, children put themselves in the characters’ shoes and learn lessons about money in a natural way. In my program, we use my books, artistic activities, and—most importantly—we put the students at the center of the entire process,” she explains.

These strategies show that learning can go beyond theory. By seeing themselves reflected in everyday situations, students begin to relate financial concepts to their own lives and are thus able to apply what they have learned in a practical way.

The Role of the Family and Educators

More than just a single subject, financial education depends on the involvement of various stakeholders. For Malu, parents and teachers are essential to building this foundation.

“Parents are our first school, and school is our second home. Children always follow the examples set by their families and their teachers. That’s why it’s so important to bring this topic to adults as well—people who often didn’t receive this kind of guidance when they were young. Now they can do things differently and teach better practices to the younger generation,” she emphasizes.

Financial Education as Social Transformation

With this goal in mind—to train educators and bring families closer together—the Ministry of Education (MEC) has also been investing in this area. The MEC recently published an administrative order establishing the “Na Ponta do Lápis” program, which focuses on financial education in elementary and middle school across the country.

The program, which is voluntary for states and municipalities, provides for teacher training, technical and financial support for school systems, and the integration of these topics into the school curriculum, in accordance with the National Common Core Curriculum (BNCC). The initiative aims to help students develop the skills to manage their money wisely, understand taxes, plan for the future, and make responsible decisions in their daily lives.

The content of this article is based on the presentation given by financial educator and CEO of the Malu Finanças Group, Malu Finanças, at the Bett Nordeste 2025 Conference.

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