A Guide To Various Educational Boards In India

In the Indian context, young parents are becoming more and more anxious regarding their child’s education. Preschool onwards, kids are pushed into the rat race of getting into the best schools in India. All the hustle parents go through to ensure their kids get quality education can go to waste if they don’t choose a curriculum that is well-suited to the needs of their child.

A number of educational boards are prevalent in our country and lack of information about their curriculum can ultimately lead to an uninformed choice that may not be the best for your child’s developmental needs. Here we have broken down the various educational boards offered by schools in India.      

1.State Board: Different states of India have their own educational boards. As of now, there are around 52 recognized state boards, with West Bengal having as many as 6 state boards. State board is preferred by students and parents who don’t want to send their kids away for their schooling. State boards provide a more state-oriented educational curriculum, with a primary focus on the discourses within the state.

2. Central Board of Secondary Education: Established in 1962, the Central Board of Secondary Education, popularly known as CBSE, is the most preferred central board of India. Central board is one which offers a standard curriculum throughout the country. The international version of the curriculum is offered in 25 other countries. The board is best suited for students aiming to crack national entrance examinations like NEET and IIT, etc.

3.Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE): It is a non-governmental, private educational board. At the heart of the curriculum is the belief that hands-on learning shapes a student’s mind better than rote learning. It was started as an Indian alternative to international curricula. Given its flexible nature and compatibility with international curricula, the board is preferred by families who have to move around a lot.

4.Cambridge International Examinations (CIE): Since 1850 CIE has been providing a dynamic platform to students to learn and develop in a holistic manner with their practical-centric approach to education. The curriculum is followed in over 160 countries and is acknowledged by all the leading universities of the world. Students who learn better when engaged in practical learning and have ambitions to go abroad for education after school usually opt CIE.

5.International Baccalaureate (IB): Conceived by keeping the children of international diplomats in mind, this board is international in the most literal sense. The range of subjects offered is quite wide and a lot of flexibility is given to the students in choosing which courses they want to take up. Subjects are taught intensively and the board is well-suited for students applying abroad for higher studies. The course is offered by the top schools in Delhi and prominent schools across India.        

No board is better or worse off than any other. The choice of which board to choose for your child boils down to their ambitions for higher education and their learning needs. Parents should make an informed and well-researched choice during the initial stages, however after a certain point they should allow their children to make the decisions regarding their education.

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