The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICAI), which regulates the profession of cost accountancy in the country, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Kerala government for offering a certificate in accounting technician (CAT) course to higher secondary school students in Kerala.

Senior ICAI western region member Deepak Marne told TOI here on Friday, "The CAT course is aimed at enabling the students to gain employability skills in the area of accounting by the time they leave their higher secondary school studies." '

Amit Apte, ICAI's central council member, will head the CAT course initiative.

The government of Kerala has launched a path-breaking initiative called 'Additional skill acquisition programme' to equip the higher secondary as well as undergraduate students from arts, science and commerce streams with employability skills and to creat a pool of skilled youth, he said.

The programme covers 140 higher secondary schools and 40 government colleges across Kerala in the initial phase of its implementation, he added. As part of the initiative, the ICAI had offered a scheme of value added courses in accountancy for the higher secondary students, he said.

Marne said, "The MoU was signed recently by ICAI president Rakesh Singh, on behalf of the institute, and representatives of the Kerala government."