We the undersigned petition the new prime minister to...

Restore legislation to make personal finance education a compulsory part of the curriculum in schools from September 2011 - as part of statutory Personal, Social, Health and Economic education.

We need to learn the lessons of the recent financial crisis and break the cycle of massive debts in the UK – a nation that for 20 years now has educated its youth into debt when they go to University with student loans, but never about debt.

The Department for Children, Families and Schools was already geared up for the introduction, so the resource and planning is possible. It’s time politicians put this right.

The education would help children understand how finance works, what decisions are important, and how to make real consumer choices in a complex world.

Briefing: Why didn't the bill go through in the first place?

The problem was nothing to do with financial education. The same piece of legislation included sex education, and in the speedy run up to the election the parties couldn't agree on the age parents should be allowed to opt their children out of it.

Thus financial education fell with it, the problem now is that it could be left in detention like a naughty school boy. This petition's aim is to speedily shove it back on the agenda, as it shouldn't be difficult to do.