Target: Class VIII AS ICAI plans to catch'em young

New Delhi, Oct 8 (UNI) "Catch them young" is the new mantra of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) which has decided to raise awareness about accountancy as a profession by lowering the bar to students who have cleared Class X examinations.

The move has been prompted by the acute shortage of Chartered Accountants as demand scales up leaving a shortfall of 20,000 CAs a year, says ICAI President T N Manoharan.

Students after completing their Class X examinations can register for the Common Proficiency Test (CPT). Preparation for the CPT can go on while in Class XI and XII, Mr Manmohan says.

The Institute is now laying emphasis on interacting with students from Class VIII onwards.

By the time the school student reache Plus One and Two levels, it was "too late" to opt for the Commerce stream, he says.

The CPT can be taken on after appearing for the Class XII examinations without awaiting the results. The syllabus will comprise the four subjects -- Accountancy, Mercantile Law, General Economics and Quantitative Aptitude.

The test, to be held once in three months throughout the country, will be purely objective type of 200 marks in multiple choice format.

Mr Manmohan says there is little awareness about the profession among youngsters as most school curriculum, other than the Central Board of Secondary Education, do not offer Commerce or Economics as a subject option.

"No capitation fees are required, students are required to pay Rs 20,000 as entire fees. In addition, they get stipend of Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000," Mr Manoharan says.

One thing the course promised was gainful employment, due to strong demand for Chartered Accountants.

"Today, 83 per cent of CA passouts go for jobs as career opportunities are so bright, with plenty of demand for CAs," he says, and adds that having a job seemed a more attractive proposition particularly for women than opening a CA firm.

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