What really makes a School International in India?

March to May each year in India: It’s that time of the year when parents start looking for the right schools to begin a new academic session for their children. It may be their child’s first step for formal education in a school - starting in nursery or kindergarten or the change of academic institution due to recent transfer to a new city.

At times students in 10 - 16 year age group also change their school for an alternative academic board. They may want to move from Indian School Certificate (ISC) to Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), from CBSE to ISC or from either of these boards to an IB school. The choice depends on their future studies and career plans and how they wish to materialise them.

While weighing their options for education institutions and boards, parents now often hear of international Schools in Delhi NCR. Why are they ‘international’? What are the unique aspects of schools that put them in this category?

Although there are no defined rules for naming a school and many CBSE schools also have names containing the terms ‘global’ or ‘international’, a truly international school is one that maintains global education standards. This is done by adopting a globally recognised curriculum such as the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program. These schools focus on the all-round development of their students by engaging them in a variety of co-curricular activities throughout the academic session.

Originally set up for children of expats residing in India, IB schools have globally acclaimed values that reflect in their mission statement and teaching styles. Today, the batches in international schools include students of Indian origin as also those from Britain, France, Australia, United States and other countries. In addition to English, which is the usual medium of instruction, students can take up their courses in languages from other European countries.

To bring out the best in each student, the top international Schools in Delhi NCR have small class sizes. Teachers give individual attention to all of them and maintain comprehensive records of their progress in different subjects. Unlike CBSE schools, there may not be any particular books for different subjects, but IGCSE and IB Diploma program students use a variety of reference books as suggested by their teachers. The best international schools in NCR have well-stocked libraries to ensure that the young scholars have access to relevant content for improving their knowledge.

How are the career prospects for scholars from these prestigious international and global schools? Trends show that the students who have an IGCSE and IB Diploma backing often become the first choice of organisations and government bodies worldwide. They appreciate the practical knowledge and skill-sets of these students, especially their abilities for critical thinking and collaborative working.

If you are contemplating over the right choice for a school and want your child to grow up into a well-educated and skilled adult, it will be worthwhile to seek admission in an international school of NCR.

Author's Note

The Noida based campus of Amity Global School was established in the 2010 and has been helping young scholars imbibe the virtues of education year after year. A disciplined approach to academics, sports and extra-curricular activities is the hallmark of the institution.