For long, national boards have carried the burden of education and met the aspirations of the people of India. While they still continue to be effective, there seems to be a churning being witnessed in the Indian education system, with the arrival of international boards. For one, these international boards are more attuned to the changing times than their national counterparts. They revise their curriculum more frequently (5 to 7 years) than the national boards to incorporate the changes happening in society and stay relevant at all times to enable students to meet both the present as well as future challenges. On the other hand, the national boards have an extensive reach and they emphasize on strengthening the basic education of students. Let’s look at what works best for both international and national boards.

What works for international boards? 

Innovative pedagogy incorporating an integrated approach

As opposed to the national boards, international boards promote a truly integrated approach to teaching and learning, conducted using innovative, new-age pedagogical tools and resources. Through projects, field work and research, international boards weave all the subjects together. For instance, in IBDP- International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (for grades XI and XII), the core subjects, namely TOK1, CAS2 and EE3, provide ample opportunities to students to draw links between various subjects and gain a more holistic understanding. Cambridge offers a unique subject named Global Perspectives that includes components like research and team projects to bring a progressive and purposeful approach to the Cambridge teaching-learning process.

Collaborative, inquiry-based learning

International boards place learners at the center of the learning process. The impetus to learning comes not from the teachers but from the learners’ own questions, research, ideas and observations. This approach promotes critical thinking, active learning and problem-solving abilities in students. Along with this, there is great emphasis on collaborations through activities, events, research, projects, field work, etc.

Diverse assessments

International boards such as Cambridge and IB4 have diverse assessment components. The flavor of assessment is quite different from that of the national boards. Along with multiple assessment components that include orals, team projects, research papers and exhibitions, the summative tests are broken down into multiple shorter papers, evaluating the application, conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills of students.

Academic integrity

International boards emphasise and enforce academic integrity. Students learn acceptable ways of conducting their academic journey. They learn the value of original thought, standard norms of writing and the importance of citing others’ work. This crucial aspect of education shapes their thought process even after they leave school.

What works for National boards?

Extensive reach

Undeniably, national boards such as CBSE, ISC and ICSE have an extensive reach. Their presence is not limited to cities but extends deep into the rural areas and interiors of the country as well as across continents. The large number of students affiliated with national boards provides an invaluable opportunity to promote a collaborative and competitive spirit among the students.

Past record/legacy

National boards boast of their glorious past record and legacy, having been in existence for a longer time in the country. It is fair to say that a large number of successful people from the county are products of the national boards. The curriculum offered by the national boards strengthens the foundations of a student. Also, the curriculum, pedagogy and administrative processes of national boards have been streamlined over the years and everything functions with a certain level of efficiency. 

Cost factor

As national boards cater to the large populace, their costs are greatly regulated and prove to be affordable. On the other hand, international boards come with a hefty price tag, limiting their reach to people with adequate resources.

Alignment with government policies

National boards align with government policies. For instance, the goals of the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP) will be integrated by the national boards smoothly. This alignment ensures that the education offered in the entire country, through these boards, aligns with the larger vision that the country has adopted through its elected representatives.

While national boards remain the preferred choice for the general public, there is a growing demand for international boards to meet the aspirations of the educated parents, who have greater resources at their disposal and want more for their kids’ education. The world is changing rapidly and is unpredictable, therefore, the education board, which equips students with the relevant skills of today and tomorrow, is likely to win the hearts of the people. It is here that international boards have a certain advantage over the national boards. Hence, Suncity School International Academia is one of the Best IB schools in Gurgaon and the Best Cambridge school in Gurgaon. It comes under the list of the Top international school in Gurgaon.

Notes:
1. TOK- Theory of Knowledge
2. CAS-Creativity, Activity, Service
3. EE-Extended Essay
4. IB-International Baccalaureate

-By Arun Arora