Equipped for Life: Why Financial Literacy Can’t Wait In a country known for its strong education system, it’s easy to assume young Canadians are graduating ready to navigate the real world. But the numbers tell a different story. A staggering 81% of high school graduates in Canada lack basic financial literacy skills , and nearly 9 in 10 Canadians have taken on debt in just the past five years ( Capilano University Capstone ). These aren’t just abstract statistics—they represent real people stepping into adulthood without the tools to make confident, informed financial decisions. The Gap Between School and Real Life British Columbia’s Math 10 curriculum does include topics like compound interest, deductions, and credit—but according to Harrison Archer, a BBA student who’s passionate about financial education, many teachers skip these sections or rush through them. Outdated resources and lack of teacher training mean students often miss out on learnin...