MANILA, Philippines--The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) have teamed up to create a program for financial literacy and investment consciousness in public high schools.

Under the program, public high school teachers will be able to simulate real-life situations so they can show students how the economy works, what capital markets do, and how they can invest, by using a set of materials called the ?Teacher?s Guide.?

There will also be lessons on benefits, risks and rewards of different forms of investments, as well how the PSE regulates the stock market.

The program will start this year until next year, and will be part of the fourth-year Economics class.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, a former banker, said the program aims to give students a better grasp of how the economy works and how they could help in nation-building.

"In the face of a global financial downturn, the collaboration between the DepEd and the PSE to introduce capital markets education in secondary schools comes at a no better time," Lapus said.