If you're looking to enroll for further studies in someplace other than a conventional science or commerce facility, the new course offered by the CBSE is worth looking up.

The CBSE board has introduced a Financial Markets Management course for Class XI and XII students; this course will be available from the academic year 2007-08 onwards. The CBSE is keen to have all schools affiliated with the board offer the course. For the first year, however, only selective institutes are offering it.

Students opting for this course will study subjects like Financial Markets, Business Accounting and Commodities. Training to take up positions in industries as Business Process Outsourcing will also be part of the curriculum.

The CBSE has tied up with the BLB Institute of Financial Markets to structure the course and train the faculty. Students who graduate can look forward to working for various financial institutions such as banks, stock-broking firms and BPOs.

• Career options in BPO support functions

The CBSE has roped in the National Stock Exchange to provide a joint certification to students opting for this course. Speaking about this initiative, Shashi Bhushan, head of department (EDUSAT), CBSE, said, "Schools have responded positively to this initiative; 250 schools have already opted to offer this course to their students from this academic year onwards."

Approximately 45 teachers from the schools offering the course have been selected to undergo the weeklong pilot training programme being held at the BIFM, New Delhi. G C Sharma, director, BIFM, said the teacher training programme will be "hands-on, and conducted by a team of academicians as well as industry professionals. The training will comprise of lectures, study materials, question-and-answer banks, etc."

The FMM course is an initiative to bridge the gap between education and employability, and prepare youngsters for 21st century careers. Sunder Ramachandran (managing partner, WCH Training Solutions and Get Ahead contributor), who helped structure the BPO curriculum, says the initiative "will provide a ready talent pool for the BPO industry, which is currently facing a huge manpower shortage."

The two-year programme is being positioned as a professional stream, rather than as just a vocational course. Industry tie-ups will improve the acceptability of the course amongst students and their families.

For more details on the course curriculum, click on www.cbse.nic.in/Final_Curriculam_FM_NEW_as_on_16Jan.doc