Why Many of the Best Schools in India are IB Schools

Until the early 2000s, the top schools in India were either ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) schools or CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) ones. But today, with the emergence of international schools in India offering IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) and IB (International Baccalaureate), the education landscape in India has changed drastically. Many of the best schools in Maharashtra as well as other states in the country these days offer the IB curriculum. Let’s take a closer look at this global curriculum to understand the reason behind this trend.

The IB offers 4 programmes:

-          Primary Years Programme for ages 3 to 12

-          Middle Years Programme for ages 11 to 16

-          Diploma Programme for ages 16 to 19

-          Career-related Programme for ages 16 to 19

In all these programmes, the IB focus on creating global citizens by teaching its students to be reflective, principled, caring, knowledgeable, open-minded and balanced. It encourages its students to expand their horizons and develop holistically to become inquirers, thinkers, communicators and risk-takers. It helps students prepare for the rigor of university and early career years by teaching them valuable research, communication and presentation skills. The IB allows its students to choose what they want to study, apart from the mandatory language, Maths and Science subjects.

Over 4,000 schools employing over 7,000 educators teach the IB curriculum to over a million students around the world. If you’re looking to enrol your child in one of India’s highly reputed IB schools, Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai and other cities in India offer you many options to choose from. When shortlisting schools for your child, make sure you look at factors like faculty and staff, infrastructure and technology, co-curricular and extracurricular activities offered, and brand image of the school.

International Curriculums Offered by Schools in India

The ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) and CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) were the only two curriculum options available to Indian students apart from the local state boards until a couple of decades ago. But things have changed drastically in the education sector today. International schools in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, and other parts of the country are offering the IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) and the IB (International Baccalaureate). Let’s take a closer look at each of these programs.

-          IGCSE

The IGCSE is conducted by Cambridge International, which is part of the University of Cambridge. The IGCSE exams are conducted in Grade 10, post which students can either move to another board or appear for AS and A levels that are conducted by Cambridge International at Grade 12. At the IGCSE level, students have the option of choosing from over 70 subjects, thereby getting the benefits of studying one of the most flexible curriculums in the country. Students are taught to develop their natural curiosity and build a passion for lifelong learning. The IGCSE lays great emphasis on students mastering the intricacies of the English language as well as a foreign language.

-          IB

The IB is a not-for-profit educational organization headquartered in Switzerland that offers top-notch education through eminent institutes around the world. It has four programs: the Primary Years Programme for ages 3 to 12, the Middle Years Programme for ages 11 to 16, and the Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme for ages 16-19. The IB focuses on teaching its students to be knowledgeable, caring, open-minded, principled, balanced and reflective, and empowering them to be effective inquirers, communicators, thinkers, and risk-takers.

If you’re looking to enrol your child in an international school offering one of these curriculums, you can start off by doing a quick Google search for ‘international school close to me’. Once you have a basic understanding of the options available, you can do more thorough research by speaking to experts in the field and parents of students currently studying in these schools.

Are International Schools Just a Fad or Are They Here to Stay?

When the first international schools were set up in India, while experts in the field of education welcomed them with open arms, most parents dismissed them as a trend and something that wasn’t suitable for the Indian ecosystem. But these international schools have proven the naysayers wrong by becoming the most popular option for parents looking to enrol their children in school nowadays. In fact, realising the many benefits, many parents are even moving their children to international schools in the middle of their academic journey!

International schools in Mumbai and other parts of the country primarily offer two international curriculums – the International Baccalaureate (IB) and the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE). The IB offers 4 different programs:

-          Primary Years Programme for ages 3 to 12

-          Middle Years Programme for ages 11 to 16

-          Diploma Programme for ages 16 to 19

-          Career-related Programme for ages 16 to 19

The IGCSE is affiliated to the Cambridge Board, which is part of the University of Cambridge.

Both the IB and the IGCSE offer their students the chance to study a variety of subjects apart from the regular English, Science and Maths, thereby allowing them to follow their passions. In fact, the IGCSE is the most flexible curriculum in India as it allows students to choose from over 70 subjects! Both these international curriculums also encourage their students to explore beyond the classroom by proving them practical learning opportunities. Teachers in international schools are trained to help students become better leaders and team players, as well as inspire them to develop qualities such as curiosity, empathy, compassion and inquisitiveness that will help them in years to come. Such schools focus on creating citizens of the world who will go on to make a global impact rather than just creating smart minds who will score well in their exams.

In the first few years of their existence, international schools in India did find it hard to be accepted as many weren’t aware of their way of learning and its benefits. However, today, these schools are the top choice for parents. When it comes to admissions to Indian universities for students from international schools, that is no longer a problem as these universities now recognize international curriculums and have created standardized scores to ensure fairness to all applicants.

So, yes, international schools are definitely here to stay and in fact, are growing in number in various cities across India due to the rising popularity of the international curriculums like the IB and the IGCSE amongst Indian parents.

Why Are International Schools The Top Favourite Today?

When enrolling your child in school, one of the first decisions you need to make is about which curriculum you want your child to study. While the previous generations didn’t have much of a choice as the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) and the local state boards were all there were, today, many schools in India also offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) and the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) curriculums. These international schools are seeing a rapid rise in popularity amongst Indian parents, with many even switching their children to these boards in the middle of their academic journeys. When it comes to the list of best international schools, India is slowly but surely making its mark.

International schools in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru are the top choices for most parents these days. Here’s why:

-          Comprehensive Curriculum

While the ICSE does offer students the option to choose which subjects they want to study, curriculums like the IGCSE and IB take it a step futher – The IGCSE allows students to choose from upto 70 subjects! The IB is a great example of a grounded curriculum as in Grades 11 and 12, students have to study English, Maths and atleast one other language, but are free to choose the other subjects as well as the level of depth at which they want to study all these subjects, i.e. to a limited extent (Standard Level) or to a deeper extent (Higher Level)

-          Global and Out-Of-The Box Approach

International schools in Mumbai and other parts of the country teach young minds to be citizens of the world by taking a global approach to learning. Children are introduced to different cultures and are taught the importance of cultural sensitivity, a highly valued trait in today’s globalised world. Students are also encouraged to be both leaders and team players, as well as curious, inquisitive, passionate and empathetic. Teachers in international schools not just teach the students what’s in the curriculum, but also inspire them to think differently and approach things from different angles. This helps lay a strong foundation for your child’s success later on in life.

-          Mobility

If your job requires you to move countries frequently, then you should definitely enrol your child in an international school as this will ensure that they can seamlessly continue their education in a school providing the same curriculum in any other country in the world. This ensures that there are no breaks or hiccups in your child’s learning.

-          Good Preparation for Further Study and Work

An international curriculum is more effective at preparing a young student for the rigors of university as well as the early stages of their career. For example, the Extended Essay component of the IB helps students gain valuable skills in conducting research and presenting the same effectively.

If you’re looking for the best international schools, India has many well-reputed names in different cities across the country. International schools have proven themselves, and are definitely here to stay.

How is Technology Being Used in Indian Schools

Technology has become an integral part of our lives and has changed the way we function on various fronts. It has revolutionised many an industry, and the education sector is no stranger to it. While there are many ed-tech companies combining education and technology to enhance a student’s learning experience, top schools in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata are also using the power of technology very effectively.

Many schools these days use learning devices in the classroom to make learning a more interactive and interesting process, especially for the younger grades. Both teachers and students are trained to use cutting-edge technology to make learning more practical. Many companies have developed apps that are specifically made for use by students in the classroom, and can also be used by them while working on their homework assignments after school hours.

Technology also helps bring the students, teachers and parents together on the same page. Many schools use email to send regular updates to parents on the progress of their child as well as inform them about any upcoming events or activities. WhatsApp groups are a good way of creating a sense of community amongst the parents, and can be used to inform parents about homework and projects.

Technology is also used to keep children safe. You can track your child’s school bus and also get in touch with the staff member on board using an app. You no longer have to wait by the window and start worrying if your child is even a few minutes late.

The top 10 CBSE schools as well as the leading schools providing other curriculums in India are also using social media platforms effectively to reach out to parents of current and prospective students. This helps them build the right brand image and send out the right message to the right target audience.