The OSC has allocated nearly $2 million in settlement money from enforcement proceedings to help promote financial literacy education in Ontario schools.

“Financial literacy is an important part of investor protection and the OSC supports educational efforts to help Ontarians develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in an increasingly complex financial world,” said Howard Wetston, chair of the OSC.

The money will help the Ministry of Education integrate its new financial literacy program into the curriculum for Grade 4 to 12 students across Ontario, beginning September 2011.

The funding adds to the ongoing funding from settlement money the OSC provides to the Investor Education Fund (IEF). The IEF is a non-profit organization established in 2001 by the OSC to develop and promote independent financial information, programs and tools to help consumers make better financial and investing decisions.

“There has always been a need for financial education and the recent global financial crisis has it made it even more imperative,” Wetston said. “We are pleased to support a program that will help thousands of Ontario students acquire essential skills to make informed decisions about their finances throughout their lives.”