[DigitalToday reporter Ji-young Lee (이지영)] Toss Bank and the Financial Supervisory Service are expanding financial education to children in hospital schools.

Toss Bank said on Sept. 1 it will pilot the “Visiting FSS Children’s Financial School” with the Financial Supervisory Service for children attending hospital schools.

The first session was held on Aug. 19 at the Raphael Children’s School at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital. The programme is set to run sequentially at a total of 3 hospital schools, including Samsung Medical Center, through September.

Hospital schools are educational facilities set up in hospitals so children who must be hospitalised for long periods or receive treatment for severe or chronic illnesses can continue their studies. A total of 35 hospital schools are currently in operation nationwide.

Classes at hospital schools are recognised as attendance at a child’s home school under supervision by local education offices. But hospital schools are not classified as schools under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, limiting participation in existing school-centred financial education programmes.

The Financial Supervisory Service has operated programmes including “One Company, One School” financial education and the “Visiting FSS Children’s Financial School.” But children in hospital schools, unlike students in regular schools, had limited opportunities to take part.

Toss Bank and the Financial Supervisory Service have therefore prepared a separate education programme for children in hospital schools who find it difficult to participate in general financial education due to long-term treatment.

Hospital schools have also been newly included in the Financial Supervisory Service’s “One Company, One School” financial education programme. This has laid the groundwork to continue financial education for hospital schools going forward.

The curriculum is centred on financial knowledge needed in daily life, including the meaning of money, rational spending and prevention of financial fraud.

Pitchmarket, which has developed educational content for people who have difficulties in learning, will deliver the on-site education.

Toss Bank and the Financial Supervisory Service plan to review the pilot results based on feedback from participating children, hospital-school staff and instructors, then identify additional hospital schools for participation.

An official at the Financial Supervisory Service said it was meaningful to extend contact points for the “One Company, One School” financial education programme, which has been operated around schools, to hospital schools so children in hospital schools can also have an opportunity to build financial capabilities.

A Toss Bank official said it would continue to seek out sites where financial education is needed and expand education opportunities.