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Imparting worldly knowledge to city kids
For many years, a number of parents in Chennai have begun enrolling their children in international schools in the hope of equipping them with career oriented skills. However, the school education department has no say in the syllabi.
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
The city saw the launch of three International Schools in the month of June alone. Each of them promises lavish infrastructure away from the city buzz, state-of-the art facilities, a wide range of extracurricular activities ensuring the all-round development of the children. These schools subscribe to international syllabus and what they learn in these schools is different from the regular CBSE, State Board, Matriculation or the ICSE streams.
The common syllabus followed by the international schools in the city are: International Baccalaureate (IB) - an international educational foundation headquartered in Geneva, Cambridge International Examinations and Edexcel, a privately-owned examination board in the UK. Apart from this, respective curriculum of US, France and Germany are also being followed by some schools. These boards are opted for by children from the expatriate community, NRIs and those who want to send their children abroad for undergraduate studies.
“I did not want my children’s education to be limited to text books and I decided to send them to an international school in the city. Here they not only learn skills like horse-riding and elaborate courses in performing arts, but they also have sessions on farming. These are the skills that come in handy when they have to decide on a career,” says S Anju, mother of a 11-year-old son, who plans to send him to either UK or US for further studies.
The facilities and the quality of education are the major selling points of the school and many top educational groups are venturing into it. Hindustan Group of Institutions inaugurated Hindustan International School at Padur and Chettinad Group launched Chettinad – Sarvalokaa Education inside the 108 acre Chettinad Health City in June.
Ashish Deb, COO, Chettinad Education and Services, says, “The IB curriculum has the potential and a framework to facilitate life-long learning among children. It goes beyond classrooms. Instead of the claustrophobic formal examination system and limited curriculum, we are allowing children to explore their options. We have trained teachers who take a scientific approach towards teaching. Also, some schools here have part CBSE-part IB curriculum, but we are authorised to offer 100 per cent IB programme. This apart, we have project-based learning. Our students will learn sustainability projects in Auroville and we will take them to the villages in the vicinity to familiarise them with the nature.” Currently, they provide the Primary Years Programme (PYP) programme.
“We plan to start Middle Years Programme (MYP), which is for grades six to 10 by 2018 and in the coming years, introduce Diploma Programme (DP) for Grades 11 and 12,” he adds.
Unlike the Indian curriculum, these schools have the option to take qualifying exams (equivalent of boards) in parts in most international curriculums. Explaining the difference between Indian and international curriculums, educationalist K R Maalathi, former Principal, Vales Billabong High International School and Gateway International School, says, “When it comes to Indian syllabus, we teach graphs in the senior years – from Class 6 and above. However, in IB, the concept of graphs is introduced in the junior years to instil analytical skills. Also, students can pick and choose from various subjects and do not have to follow a set pattern.”
One of the first such school was the American International School around 22 years ago, now we have around 20 schools with international syllabus. The annual fee in these institution can range from ₹2.6 lakh to ₹ 10 lakh,” she adds.
‘Enquire well before enrolling’
The city has always been a study in academic excellence. Over the years, parents began to look for schools where children can expand their horizons, and international schools turned attractive.
According to KR Maalathi, former Principal of an internationals school, “The trend began in early 2000s, at the time of the IT boom, when both parents were working in the IT sector and earning substantially well and could afford sending their children to these schools whose fees are much higher than the others. Also, because, this was also the time that people were being sent on off-shore projects to foreign countries. Parents wanted their children to have easy transition.”
Another factor was the spike in demand for such schools in the recession years, as many Indians, returning to the city were in search of educational institutions where continuity in the method of education was available.
This was all the more so, since they were hoping to go back when the economy stabilised.
However, some educationists say that parents must be careful before admitting their children. An educationist, who did not want to be named, says, “There are some who are just calling themselves ‘international’ school to attract patronage. Parents must enquire well before enrolling their children. Secondly, the schools must have trained teachers, who are familiar with international style of teaching. There are schools whose only criteria for hiring is that the teacher must be presentable and speak English. Also, only those who are planning to send their children abroad for undergraduate studies must think of international syllabus, because these students will find it difficult to fit into the courses here.”
It is important to note that these syllabi are not recognised by the National Curriculum Framework. They follow the framework of their respective body. The certificates from these schools are not considered as a valid document. A student can’t produce the marksheets of these schools to apply for a government job.
When contacted, a senior official from the school education department says, “We are responsible for the state board, matriculation and Anglo -Indian streams. CBSE and ICSE have their head offices in Delhi. The international syllabus doesn’t come under our purview. All they need is to get all the clearances from the government.”
Bulletin board
- The syllabus followed in many of the international schools in the city is quite different from the standard ones common to the curriculum of various Indian school streams.
- American International School is one the earliest in the city.
- The trend began in early 2000s, at the time of the IT boom, when both parents were working in the IT sector and earning substantially well and could afford to send their children to these schools.
- Annual fee ranges from Rs 2.6 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
- Common syllabi followed are International Baccalaureate (IB) Geneva, Cambridge International Examinations and Edexcel (pvt), UK, curriculum of US, France and Germany.
- IGCSE International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) an academically rigorous curriculum is offered to students to prepare them for International Baccalaureate and CIE A-level.
- IB International Baccalaureate (IB) offers 3 educational programmes, namely • PYP or Primary year programme for KG to Grade 5 • MYP or Middle year programme for Grade 6 to Grade 10 • DP or Diploma programme for Grade 11 and Grade 12.
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