TAIPEI, Taiwan - Senior high and vocational school students on average score low in financial IQ, showing a lack of knowledge about money management, according to survey results released yesterday.

The survey was conducted to explore financial attitudes, behaviors and knowledge among students. Participants were surveyed before and after attending an in-campus financial education campaign, to measure the effectiveness of the campaign.

In the financial status category, only 40 percent of the respondents were satisfied with the amount of their allowances. The average student allowance is NT$1,453, while the ideal amount is twice as much, at NT$2,666.

The main source of income for senior high and vocational school students is parents. According to the statistics, 29 percent of the students work part-time to make extra cash.

The majority of their spending is on food, clothing, cosmetics and beauty products. Only three percent of the respondents actively save.

Financial knowledge was measured before and after in-campus financial education campaigns. The average score after the educational campaign was 71, just a little higher than the 63 prior to the campaign, with students from northern Taiwan scoring the highest, and those from eastern Taiwan scoring the lowest due to their limited access to information.

According to the survey, most of financial knowledge and finance-related information came from parents.