School students interested to pursue higher studies in financial management are in for a good time, as the Central Board of Secondary Education has introduced an optional financial market management course for classes IX and X from this academic session.

To be introduced under the National Skills Qualification Framework, the vocational course will be conducted in collaboration with the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

Students would receive a certificate. "The NSE will also conduct an online examination for the financial market management papers. To develop practical skills, students will also practise various modules of NSE Learn to Trade, a web-based market simulation software. The schools, which have implemented the course in classes XI and XII (since 2007), are advised to introduce the financial market management course in Class IX from the 2015-16 academic session," said MVV Prasad Rao, director (vocational education), CBSE, New Delhi.

The circular was uploaded on the CBSE website on May 24. Students, who take up the course, will study two papers in classes IX and X for 200 periods each.

Rohini Singh, a Class VIII student of Radiant International School, who has an interest in the marketing sector, said: "It is time to start such type of management courses in classes IX and X. If the course is implemented at my school, the subject would not be a new thing for me when I decide to do my graduation in management studies."

The school authorities are also upbeat about the new course and the benefits it would accord the children.

D.K. Ghosh, the principal of DAV Public School, Khagaul, said: "The course is beneficial because in schools, we only educate students in traditional subjects but not any professional course. If the students learn money management skills in school, it will definitely give a boost to their professional career in the future."