Picking the Perfect School Board: A Guide for Educational Leaders
Today, every parent wants to equip their child with “global skills.” The choice of education board can make or break your school’s success. Being a multicultural nation, India has a unique education system with three primary education boards – ICSE, CBSE, and State Boards.
Every board has different learning programmes, teaching methods, assessment criteria, curriculum requirements, and examination procedures. The education board also administers your school district’s operations, such as hiring staff, managing finances, and establishing policies.
So, selecting school education boards is crucial to providing quality education. This article includes a detailed overview of different boards and tips to help you pick the right one.
Different school boards in India
1. ICSE – Indian Certificate of Secondary Education
As India’s national body of education, the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) administers ICSE exams for grade 10 students. It also conducts the Indian School Certificate (ISC) exams for grade 12 students.
The ICSE board gives equal importance to all subjects, be it science, arts or languages. Both international and Indian universities recognise the certificates provided by the board. CISCE is known for its complex and comprehensive curriculum, which covers a wide range of topics, making it the toughest education board in India.
Pros:
- ICSE board focuses on the overall development of students by providing practical education through high-quality instruction.
- The course curriculum is more extensive and provides more flexibility than the CBSE syllabus.
- The board includes fair weighting for languages, humanities, and arts, providing a balanced and integrated learning environment.
Cons:
- Non-affiliated school students cannot appear for the ICSE exams compared to CBSE.
- Higher fee structure than CBSE schools.
- The extensive syllabus can be taxing for some students.
- Higher-ranked ICSE schools have limited seats, which makes admissions tougher.
- There is a high emphasis on the English language as a means of teaching.
2. CBSE – Central Board of Secondary Education
CBSE is one of India’s most prominent education boards for public and private schools. It is controlled and managed by the Union Government of India.
CBSE boards follow the NCERT curriculum, which forms the basis for all national entrance examinations. The board conducts two exams-
- All India Secondary School Examination (AISSE) for Grade 10
- All India Senior School Certificate Examination (AISSCE) for Grade 12
CBSE offers a range of subjects in commerce, science, and humanities for its 10+2 students.
Pros:
- The CBSE board is recognised by all national and international universities, making it a top school board in India.
- The curriculum is structured, and almost all entrance exams follow the NCERT syllabus.
- The board conducts Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) from grades 6 to 10 to evaluate students throughout the year, easing out single exam pressure.
- Given its extensive presence, students seeking distance education or parents with transferable jobs can easily register.
Cons:
- The CBSE curriculum focuses more on science and math to prepare students for medical and engineering entrance examinations.
- There is a lot of focus on theoretical concepts and memorising subjects.
- The board is considered to be more difficult than other education boards due to the strict grading system.
3. State Boards
Every state in India has its affiliated board of education that organises board exams for classes 10 and 12. Each state board has its separate syllabus, examination format, curriculum design and grading system.
State boards emphasise state-level topics of regional relevance to help students prepare for state-level medical and engineering entrance tests. Local languages and heritage play a major role in the curriculum.
The syllabus is limited and relatively easy compared to other boards.
Pros:
- As the curriculum is simple, students of all ability levels can succeed and score well in board exams.
- Students preparing for competitive exams like NEET and JEE can benefit from state boards.
- More seats are available, making the admission process easier than other boards.
- Reasonably affordable fees and students learn more about local traditions and culture.
Cons:
- There is no consistency in the quality of state board education across India. The teaching quality varies from state to state.
- The syllabus is not comprehensive enough and might lack a global perspective or a practical approach.
- The infrastructure might lack the necessary facilities and may not be at par with private boards.
- Opting for the state language is usually mandatory, which might be difficult for other state students.
Making the right choice
You need to consider several factors while choosing an education board. Below are a few tips that can help you make the right choice.
1. Balancing educational vision and practical constraints
Although each school board strives to provide quality education to students, they differ in curriculum design, philosophy, and execution. The education board’s policies must reflect your school’s vision and values.
To choose an appropriate and suitable board, consider your school’s budget and the resources available to teachers. The strategy and methodology of the board must act as a bridge in achieving your educational vision with the available resources.
2. Consultation with educational experts
Educational consultants understand the complexities inherent to modern education. To ensure your school has a good start, seek guidance from educational experts to pick the correct education board.
When selecting school education boards, it’s crucial to consider the challenges related to the school, budgeting, district and the socioeconomic conditions in the area. Educational consultants can help you address these difficulties and create the best possible learning environment for your students.
3. Assessing long-term sustainability
Your students must be able to retain the learning material and apply it later on. To ensure this, you must choose a sustainable education board. Sustainability refers to the long-lasting, effective result of a venture without consuming additional resources in the future.
For assessing the long-term sustainability of the board, consider the curriculum quality, standard of instruction, and resource accessibility.
Wrapping up!
Selecting school education boards is a crucial choice that requires careful consideration. The right education board can make all the difference when it comes to fulfilling your school’s commitment to quality education. Tailoring education to local needs is the key to ensuring your school’s success.
Here’s another tip if you’re planning to open a new school. Leverage Qfix’s school management software to manage your online operations. Qfix offers end-to-end solutions for educational institutions. Some key features include fee management for schools, attendance management, broadcast and communication channels, etc.
As Qfix takes care of all administrative hassles, you can now focus on delivering quality education. So, kick start your educational venture by collaborating with Qfix!