The Masters of the Digital Future debate project is part of Banka Slovenije’s ongoing efforts to improve the financial literacy of children and young people. The project was organized for the second time and this year managed to attract more than 600 pupils and students from 60 schools around the country.
After finishing all the debates, the title of Masters of the Digital Future was awarded to teams from primary school OŠ Maksa Pečarja and secondary school Gimnazija Bežigrad. The awards were presented to the winners by Banka Slovenije’s Acting Governor Dr Primož Dolenc and Slovenian President Dr Nataša Pirc Musar, who also acts as the project’s patron. Both highlighted the impressive knowledge of finance and financial matters displayed by all those who took part.
In Banka Slovenije we are very much keen to furtherly endorse financial education of the young generation while we also emphasise the importance of incorporating financial topics into Slovene school system. With this in mind, we organise a large number of activities throughout the school year. This year we have also added the Bodi FIN project run in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, to our range of regular programmes, and continued last year’s successful Masters of the Digital Future debate project in collaboration with the Office of the Slovenian President. The project is aimed at students in the last three years of primary school and in secondary school this year featuring more than 600 pupils and students from 60 schools around the country.
The Masters of the Digital Future grand finals took place today, with the Vsaj prvi team from primary school Maks Pečar prevailing over the Dirty All Stars team from primary school Tončka Čeč who debated in the experienced primary school category. In the secondary school experienced category, Bežigrad Amethyst beat Bežigrad Cobalt, both from secondary school Gimnazija Bežigrad. Beforehand, victory in the inexperienced category already went to Onigiri Ham Ham from primary school Domžale and to Ranae from secondary school Gimnazija in srednja šola Rudolfa Maistra Kamnik.
At the closing event, awards were presented to the winners by Slovenian President Dr Nataša Pirc Musar and Banka Slovenije Acting Governor Dr Primož Dolenc.
“To all the young people here, I say that your knowledge of finance and your ability to express yourself clearly will serve you well wherever your lives lead you. I hope that the ‘Masters of the Digital Future’ will inspire new debates, new questions and, most of all, a self-confident, responsible and careful approach to a world that is constantly changing,” said President Dr Pirc Musar in her opening address. Banka Slovenije Acting Governor Dr Primož Dolenc added: “You probably don’t yet know it yourselves, but by taking part in projects such as Masters of the Digital Future, you are firmly telling the world around you that it is worth spending time and effort on topics that benefit society in general. By taking part in such projects, you are slowly but surely adding your tile to the mosaic of a better, friendlier and more respectful society. And for that, I express my deepest respect.”
Their prize for the winning teams is a trip to Vienna and a tour of the Austrian central bank. All the finalists will also meet the Slovenian President at the Presidential Palace.
