NBSE, NSE introduce financial literacy course in 60 schools

Nagaland became the first state in the North-East today to introduce financial literacy course through the National Stock Exchange (NSE) in schools.
NSE and Nagaland Board of Secondary Education (NBSE) launched the course from the current academic year as a pilot project for 5,153 Class IX students in 60 schools, including four government ones in Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung districts.
The course would be extended to schools of remaining eight districts from the next academic session, said NBSE Chairman Asano Sekhose.
Launching the course, Commissioner and Secretary for School Education, Nagaland, F P Solo hoped that the course would help inculcate in students the habit of financial management and ultimately lead to country's economic growth.

He also hoped that the course would help the young generation to reverse the trend of spending more than what is being earned and also encourage the students to take up commerce and financial management studies.
NSE Managing Director and CEO Chitra Ramkhrisna said the course was a milestone engagement for NSE and NBSE with an aim to sow the seed of financial management starting with strong saving habit.

Stating that financial sector is one of the fastest growing sector, she said it would give more job opportunities and therefore youngsters should be equipped with financial literacy to grab the opportunity.

"Such programs are helping students to develop a life skill. Finance is indeed a fundamental skill and such programs help to understand how to manage disposable income," she said.
The curriculum will cover topics like income and expenditure, importance of savings, elementary knowledge about banking system, basics of financial planning, money management and setting financial goals etc.
Students will have to complete the course within a maximum of 25 hours, officials said.
This initiative is unique because it helps to build a necessary life skill among the young and prepare them for the future even before they begin their professional career, they said.

Asked about NSE taking up financial literacy courses for the general public, Ramkrishna told PTI that it would explore various fora to provide financial literacy to interested people and start a strong foundation of financial management.