The emerging ‘concept’ of F – Schools really amused me.
It was in the 1980s, the recruitment in the Public sector Banks was in bulk numbers. Though SSLC was the minimum qualification for a clerical job in a Bank, the examination conducted by the Banking Service Recruitment Board (BSRB) was of a little higher standard that mostly the graduates are students in their final year of graduation could only make it to the next level.
The boom in the youngsters’ ratio in the exployees cadre increased the enrollment for the CAIIB examsa conducted by the then Indian Institute of Bankers, now Indian Institute of Banking and Finance.
the main reasons were :
1. The fresh-out-of college kids could crack the exams easily.
2. The increment in basic pay the Banks granted for completing every stage of the exam (One increment for CAIIB Part 1 and two increments for Part 2)
3. The quick climbing up to the next cadre. Those who completed both parts of CAIIB were eligible to appear for the Officer’s exams two years before their other colleagues could do so)
The CAIIB exams have evolved now to online as JAIIB and CAIIB. Still with a commitment to make the employees better learned crowd.
The idea of B-School graduates and F-Schools have come in much later.
The CFA program by the ICFAI was popular among the bank officers, though the course fee was a bit higher than these officers could shell out for a certification. Later, the label of this program came under dispute with CFA Institute.
Then came a time when banks started hiring top-brand B-School grads. The pay packet however was not to the expectation of the MBAs. So these grads quit quickly to be in their choice of businesses.
But, now, why blame it on the course module saying that it is not a B School certification but a F-School certification is what would go with the Banks. In my opinion, the need of the hour is the adaptability of an individual to the changing trends in the Banking scenario. And the traditional CAIIB, which is an on-the-job learning and training for the bankers is what will go with the need of the banks. The course is designed to elaborate and learn more on what the bankers do on a daily basis at their work place.
But this course should also evolve with the changing times and generations.
