THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), in partnership with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, has launched the 2026 Schools Monetary Policy Challenge (SMPC), an initiative aimed at strengthening financial literacy and helping learners better understand monetary policy.
The programme seeks to bridge the gap between economic policy and communities by introducing monetary policy concepts to learners at secondary and high school level.
Speaking during the SMPC induction workshop on Tuesday, RBZ chief of staff in the office of the governor, Morris Mpofu, said the initiative was designed to cultivate financially literate and economically aware young people.
“This partnership reflects a shared commitment to equipping our young people with critical financial and economic knowledge,” Mpofu said.
“The Schools Monetary Policy Challenge is meant to ensure that we embrace financial literacy and financial inclusion among young people as they grow up in schools.”
Mpofu said the programme also sought to nurture future policymakers and critical thinkers capable of engaging with real-world economic challenges.
Keep Reading
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
“This initiative also speaks to a broader continental aspiration to empower young Africans to actively engage in shaping economic outcomes. The SMPC seeks to nurture a generation of thinkers, innovators, and future policymakers who are confident in engaging with real-world economic issues,” he said.
He said the RBZ wanted monetary policy discussions to be understood from the grassroots level, particularly among young people.
“The Reserve Bank is conducting this Monetary Policy Challenge so that it becomes more exciting for school participants, because that is where we want them to learn about economic dynamics when we talk about stability,” Mpofu said.
“We want them to understand when we talk about our currency. We know that we have had currency challenges in the past, but this time around we want to ensure that children understand it from this perspective so that they are also able to communicate effectively with their elders and parents about what we mean by monetary policy.”
Mpofu said the challenge would simulate real central banking processes within schools, with learners taking on policymaking roles.
“We want to make sure we have the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe represented in schools by our children. School A will have its governor; School B will have its governor. They will make monetary policy presentations and provide policy-oriented suggestions,” he said.
“It is a deep and engaging initiative because it allows learners to think critically and relate to what is happening in the country. It allows them to engage with monetary policy dynamics and also educate others.”
Acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, James Bayanai, said the challenge would equip learners with practical knowledge about the economy and financial systems.
“The Zimbabwe School Monetary College Challenge is about preparing our learners to understand how the economy they live in actually works. If our students leave school unable to grasp interest rates, exchange rates, and the role of the Reserve Bank, then we have left them at a disadvantage in their own country,” Bayanai said.
The challenge aims to enhance financial literacy and deepen understanding of monetary policy among secondary and high school learners, while inspiring future leaders in Zimbabwe’s financial and monetary sectors.
“It is designed to engage learners in a series of competitions at the cluster, provincial, and national levels where they will carry out practical tasks and publicly present on various aspects of monetary policy,” Bayanai said.