Almost nine out of ten adults (87%) believe children should learn how to manage bank accounts, credit cards and insurance.

Only 5% of those surveyed said they disagreed strongly that personal finance should be taught at school.

The research was undertaken in August by polling organisation NOP among nearly 1,000 adults in the UK.

Personal finance is not part of the National Curriculum, although some banks, such as NatWest and Midland, work with schools on a local level to produce project material based on personal finance issues.

'Complex'

The Associate Director of NOP Financial, Sonya Graneek, said: "The public is regularly bombarded with a considerable amount of information on personal financial products and services, from Personal Equity Plans and savings plans to pensions and mortgages.

"Given the increasing complexity of the personal finance market and the huge range of options now available, it is clear that a significant majority of adults would like to see management of personal finance taught at school to ensure that future generations are in a position to make the most of their money.

"This is of particular importance as younger people are faced with major financial issues such as debt from an increasingly early age."

Seven out of ten people questioned by NOP see the management of personal finances as a necessary chore, but 10% of respondents admitted personal finance "was a bit of a hobby". Not surprisingly, those with �100,000 or more in savings tend to take a more enthusiastic approach.

Just 8% of respondents found personal finance "very confusing", with slightly more - 10% - finding the subject "very boring".