The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Education (DepEd) are aiming to boost investor education and promote financial literacy among students and teachers.

The SEC said in a statement that this partnership is in line with the commission’s efforts to protect more Filipinos from the rising number of scams in the country.

In a ceremony on Oct. 9, the SEC signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with DepEd for the inclusion of the commission’s smart financing and investment education resources into the country’s educational curriculum.

For its part, DepEd, will translate the resources provided by the SEC into learning materials to be used in the classroom setting. It will also include financial literacy as one of the learning competencies that students should develop.

“Currently, the SEC administers webinars covering a wide range of financial topics, from becoming an agent in the capital market to managing finances and identifying investment scams,” SEC Chairperson Emilio B. Aquino said.

He added though that “we know we can do more, and our ultimate goal is to embed financial literacy deeply in our society, starting with the youth. If we want a bountiful harvest, we must first plant and nurture the seeds; and for this, we seek the assistance of the DepEd.” 

Under the MOA, the SEC leads efforts to educate teachers on how to identify, avoid, and report illegal investment schemes to stop them from falling prey into investing their hard-earned money in such unauthorized activities.

This will equip them with the necessary tools to teach by example and influence their students’ financial literacy journey.

The SEC will also be sharing data on black-listed corporations and entities which have been found to be engaging in fraudulent investment activities, letting both teachers and students know which entities to avoid.

Following the MOA signing, the SEC will push for the approval of the Capital Market Development Act, which will provide legislative basis for the inclusion of the SEC learning materials in the curriculum.

“Ultimately, we want to equip our students and teachers with the knowledge and skills to save, manage, and invest effectively. A more financially literate public will be better positioned to build a secure future while avoiding the financial pitfalls and scams that have become increasingly prevalent,” Aquino said.

DepEd is the latest partner that the SEC has engaged to be part of the SEC Campaign, Advocacy, and Network (SEC CAN!) initiative, its flagship program for promoting financial literacy in the country.

Under the program, the commission is partnering with both public and private organizations to form the SEC Capital Market Promotion and Awareness Inter-Agency Network (CAMPAIGN), which will help in disseminating the commission’s financial education programs with their respective constituents.