The fact that almost all parents and guardians want their children or wards to excel academically does not need a second opinion. With globalization having become the ‘order of the day’, this aspiration has reached a new level. It corresponds to the hope that the education of children should be in tune with the trends abroad, and also on a par with a prestigious world recognition.
Fortunately, there should be no more such concerns, courtesy of selected institutions in India that have chosen to teach the International Baccalaureate (IB) syllabus up to post-senior secondary levels. Therefore, it can be said that the International Baccalaureate secondary schools have made their presence felt in India. Children in such schools receive an education suitable to allow them to enter the portals of any university around the world, since IB is recognized in both hemispheres of the world.
However, gaining IB affiliation is a difficult proposition for schools as the prescribed parameters are rigid. So far, the IB main board has accredited almost 4,000 schools around the world. More than a million students learn the unique and character-oriented IB curriculum from 70,000 teachers at these institutions.
Schools can reap numerous benefits by opting for this curriculum. Some of these advantages are access to:
- High-quality education programs, which support the development of a well-informed and scientific temperament and also curiosity among students.
- Professional development that supports effective teachers, resource persons, and associated professional learning communities
- A global network of highly respected IB World Schools working together to share best academic practice
Almost every day of the year, there is room for personal interaction, as well as online learning opportunities. This has left a positive impact among staff at IB World Schools in India.
Therefore, each of these progressive institutions, be it from anywhere in the country, is considered as an international school in India. In 1983, the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) recognized the IB course credentials. Consequently, it has been recognized as an entrance qualification (equivalent to an Indian Board’s +2 grade) in all Indian universities.
Another positive factor in favor of the IB was that it has been very supportive and useful for those students who want to stay in India for their university studies. This has been a boon for thousands of students, particularly NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) or expatriates.
A global survey of schools following this curriculum conducted between 2013 and 2015 found that students in the IB Primary Years Program (PYP) and Middle Years Program (MYP) did much better than non-IB students. This study was carried out as part of an International School Assessment exercise.
It was also observed that students from IB affiliated schools earned their diploma and postgraduate scrolls faster than their peers. On a confident note, these students successfully took college-level coursework involving time-limited research. The versatile IB curricula have encouraged students to cultivate a multicultural spirit in values-based education, thereby shaping them as future responsible citizens.