Financial literacy programme expanded to more schools in Sabah

· Borneo Post Online
Mary Angela Sipaun (top and fifth from left) with the winners of AEIOU Challenge programme and the organising team together with Mazlan Osman, principal of Sekolah Kebangsaan Malawa, Telipok (top far left), Azizah Binti Baba, Senior Assistant Director, Management Division, Sabah State Registration Department (top and third from left), Teoh Chu Lin, Group Chief Corporate Banking & Capital Markets Officer of Alliance Bank (top and second from right) and Dr Aaron Sum Wei Wern, Group Chief Strategy, Marketing and Business Development Officer of Alliance Bank (top far right).

KOTA KINABALU (Oct 25): Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad continues to deepen its commitment to inculcate financial literacy to more schools across Sabah through its AEIOU programme.

The award-winning initiative aims to equip schoolchildren aged nine to 12 in the region with essential money management skills for their financial well-being.

Datuk Mary Angela Sipaun, the State Treasurer from the Sabah State Treasury Department (JBNS), attended the launch of Alliance Bank’s financial literacy workshop at Sekolah Kebangsaan Malawa in Sepanggar.

Their presence underscores the State’s support for this meaningful initiative. Schoolchildren from Sekolah Kebangsaan Keronggu in Inanam and Sekolah Rangalu Baru in Tuaran also participated in the event.

To further broaden reach, Alliance Bank partnered with JBNS to identify schools across the region, including areas such as Sepanggar, Inanam, Tuaran and other communities with limited access to financial literacy resources.

Through the AEIOU Challenge’s Train-the-Trainers programme, the bank is also working closely with the local schoolteachers to deliver financial literacy content via both physical and virtual financial literacy workshops. These sessions, conducted in Malay and English, engage students through interactive activities and quizzes designed to reinforce key financial concepts.

To further enhance the learning experience, prizes are awarded to encourage active participation and make the process more enjoyable.

The bank’s efforts in promoting financial literacy seeks to align with the 2027 School Curriculum by the Ministry of Education as it directly contributes to one of its key objectives, which is fostering lifelong learning.

This curriculum emphasises the continuous development of skills and knowledge beyond classroom, preparing students for real-world challenges.

This initiative also reinforces the bank’s commitment to enhancing the financial well-being of Malaysians, particularly among the youth and children, in line with the National Strategy for Financial Literacy 2019 – 2023 developed by the Financial Education Network.

“As a community-centric institution, we are dedicated to supporting the government’s efforts in improving Malaysians’ financial literacy. We are not just focused on expanding the reach of AEIOU Financial Literacy education to more schools in Sabah but critically also, on empowering educators with the tools they need to deliver financial literacy content effectively, enabling a wider and deeper impact. We greatly appreciate JBNS’ support in helping us reach these communities and empower schoolchildren with financial skills that will serve them throughout their lives. “Our ultimate goal is to nurture a generation of financially savvy young individuals who are well-prepared for the challenges ahead,” said Kellee Kam, Group Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Bank.

JBNS has been instrumental in facilitating the bank’s outreach in Sabah by coordinating efforts with local schools and communities, promoting participation and ensuring the programme’s widespread adoption.

“Our mission is to sustain community well-being by empowering young individuals with essential knowledge and skills. Financial literacy plays a crucial role in this, and by supporting Alliance Bank’s efforts, we ensure that schoolchildren in Sabah are equipped with the tools to make informed financial decisions from an early age. This collaboration enables us to extend valuable resources to schools across Sabah, reinforcing the importance of early financial education. The programme exemplifies how public-private partnerships can raise awareness, preparing our youth for future financial challenges and nurturing their growth into confident, well-rounded adults,” said Mary.

Recognised by Bank Negara Malaysia as the Best Financial Literacy programme for primary schools in 2017, the AEIOU Challenge is designed to teach the importance of good money management in a fun and engaging manner. Since its launch in 2015, the AEIOU Challenge has benefitted 140,000 children nationwide and received over 130,000 submissions for the Comic Challenge and e-Game Challenge.

This year, the programme has reached over 25,000 schoolchildren nationwide, which is approximately 30% increase from the previous seasons.

Over 1,200 teachers have been empowered to conduct financial literacy workshops at their respective schools. Overall, the challenge has reached out to more than 1,000 schools.

The bank continues to extend its educational outreach to ensure that the essential principles of financial management are accessible to schoolchildren across Sabah and beyond.