Schools want to go the international way, but CBSE still quiet

New Delhi Last year, the Human Resource Development Ministry had asked Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to select schools that were keen to opt for the international curriculum instead of the Indian one. International curriculum is followed in schools affiliated to the CBSE abroad. The Board then asked its affiliated schools that were interested in implementing the international curriculum to send in their names. However, schools that were interested in implementing the CBSE International (CBSEi) are still waiting from the final confirmation from the Board.

Schools across the city had sent in their proposals to the Board but months have passed and authorities say they are yet to hear back from the CBSE. As many as 11,000 schools in the country and abroad are affiliated to the Board.

When contacted, CBSE officials said they were in the process of working out the details.

Usha Ram, principal of Laxman Public School in Hauz Khas, said, “CBSE asked schools that were interested to include international curriculum, to apply online. We also applied. We thought it would be good to bring in the international curriculum in the school. The international curriculum is more research-based. But so far, there has not been any information from the CBSE,” she said.

The schools say CBSE should hurry up in the selection process and they fear that it would not be possible to implement CBSEi if they are intimated late.

Many schools have voiced concern that they would need to develop infrastructure for the implementation of the international curriculum and need time for that. Also, CBSi curriculum means that schools will have to invest some amount to be able to implement theinternational medium.

A school principal who works closely with CBSE on its policies said that the Board is yet to come up with the details about the affiliation fee as well.

“Since it is an international Board, affiliation cost will be higher than the usual fees of affiliation. CBSE needs to inform the selected schools. And earlier, the better,” the principal said.

The international curriculum is supposed to be implemented in at least 50 schools in the country on a pilot basis. CBSE officials maintain that the Mathematics and Science curriculum will, however, remain the same.

“Social sciences like history will include world history rather than just Indian history. The curriculum is research based and has an wordly outlook, a CBSE official said.