CNB animated film “Of Money and Men” now on internet

The Czech National Bank’s animated film “Of Money and Men”, which presents the history of money and the objectives and roles of the CNB, is now publicly available on YouTube. The film, which is another contribution of the CNB to enhancing child and adult financial literacy, can now be used by schools and other interested parties in their education programmes.

This entertaining and educational film has previously been screened only to visitors to the “People and Money” exhibition at the CNB’s headquarters in Prague. It was officially launched by CNB Board Member Eva Zamrazilová at a meeting with fourth and eighth graders at Prague’s U Krčského lesa elementary school, where she also discussed money, finances and the pitfalls awaiting young people in the financial market with the pupils.

“Although financial education is not a mandatory part of the primary school curriculum in the Czech Republic, I have found over and again that even the very youngest pupils are interested in talking about money. This confirms the OECD’s guidelines in practice. According to the OECD, financial education should be compulsory throughout a child’s school career,” said Eva Zamrazilová.

The ten-minute film “Of Money and Men” was made by leading Czech animator Pavel Koutský and is intended as a practical aid for financial literacy tuition in schools. It teaches pupils in an entertaining manner about the history of money, introduces them to the Czech National Bank and its main functions and objectives, and familiarises them with basic terms used in economics and the financial world. In addition to YouTube, the film is available on the CNB’s financial education website www.cnbprovsechny.cnb.cz.

The CNB has long promoted financial education. This year, for instance, it has sent more than 10,000 workbooks “Money and finance – Financial literacy for the first to third grades of primary schools” to more than 200 schools nationwide for free. It also organises seminars for teachers and lectures for senior citizens at universities of the third age. Together with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education, it is responsible for the National Financial Education Strategy. In 2010 it carried out a joint project with the Ministry of Finance to measure adult financial literacy in the Czech Republic.

Marek Petruš
Director, CNB Communications Department