Lessons children learn at a young age become a system and a way of life, especially if strengthened as they grow older.

Maegan Allysa Motilla, 14, keeps a coin bank where she puts her savings, a habit acquired since Grade 1 at St. Joseph De Mary Learning Center here.

“Before po pumasok sa school, naghuhulog na ako para hindi ko na magastos (I drop some money before I leave for school so that I won’t be able to spend it anymore),” she said in an interview Friday.

She said all students in her school are required to have a “piggy bank” so they will know the value of saving.

“Noon po kasi naka-ipon ako at nagamit ko pambili ng school supplies pang next school year. Tulong ko na rin po kay Mama at Papa para hindi malaki ang gastos nila (I was able to save for my school supplies for the following school year before. It is my way of helping my parents so that they can save on expenses),” she said.

Motilla’s experience is among the few success stories of the cooperative laboratory (coop lab) program concept that the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) is establishing in schools offering basic education.

CDA-Cordillera Director Dr. Felicidad Cenon said there are six labs in the region being implemented with the help of cooperatives in good standing.

“The concept is to cascade the idea of savings,” she said.

The Coop Lab at the St. Joseph De Mary Learning Center is a creation of the Bavesco multipurpose cooperative.

“We want to teach the children to save money and be prepared by having available money to use when needed in the coming days,” Susan Angaga, president of the family-owned school, told the Philippine News Agency. “We want to teach them the idea of saving money and later on, imbibe the idea of cooperativism.”

Motilla’s mother said the idea is something she hopes other schools will adopt to mold children into becoming responsible spenders. (PNA)