How to Choose the Right School Board for Your Child

As a parent you are free to introduce your child to the desired board dealing with CBSE curriculum, ICSE curriculum, IB curriculum, SB for pursuing schooling and pre-university courses. And, a proper enrollment in a board that is suitable to your child will definitely reap a benefit to the highest levels. When you consider CBSE board, ICSE board, IB board, or SB, each board underlies a distinctive advantage with unique features. So, before we get into the details of ‘how to select a board for your child’s career,’ let us explain about the various educational boards made available in India. Broadly speaking, Each board can be judged based on four important aspects and they are  curriculum and pedagogy, recognition and future opportunities, learning style and preferences, & extra-curricular activities. 

Central Board of Secondary Education, CBSE Curriculum Well Structured Program

CBSE curriculum focuses on core subjects with structured learning procedures. Students are encouraged to participate in sports, arts, and cultural activities thus maintaining a striking balance between academics and extra cultural activities. The CBSE syllabus is conducive to make preparations for examinations at the national level. 

This board is very helpful to the children of Central Government Employees as they get frequently transferred from one place to another. 

Indian Certificate of Secondary Education, ICSE Curriculum Rigorous Program 

ICSE Curriculum is well recognised in the national and international levels. The curriculum mainly focuses on humanities, English language, skills, and practical learning. The syllabus is well applicable for students who are comfortable with rigorous curriculum.  ICSE also introduces extra curricular activities such as arts and cultural programs. 

International Board, IB

The educational curriculum encourages students to have a deeper understanding of the subject, enhance critical thinking, research skills, and represent a global perspective. The entire syllabus revolves in creating global awareness, and besides regular curriculum, the student is exposed to extracurricular activities. In nutshell, the curriculum demands a deeper understanding of subjects and is highly applicable for students who do plan to study abroad. 

State Board, SB

The State Board is confined to the state and the syllabus is best to prepare state level competitive examinations. The entire state board curriculum covers information on regional languages, cultural and economic affairs of the state. Some schools may initiate the extracurricular activities while others may ignore it. The execution of the extra curriculum activities does depend on the state and the school management.  

How Wisely Can You Decide Your Child’s Board? 

For a better grasp about your child’s interests and abilities, do approach educational counselors. These educational counselors lay emphasis on your child's academic needs, career aspirations, and personal choice. They can enable you in exploring the hidden skills and talent in your child thus helping you to select the appropriate board. 

 To have a clear perception of your child's educational interests, just note the strengths, weaknesses, short term and long term goals of your child’s career. You must cross validate with the unique features provided by the various boards across the Nation. 

1. Let us check for the options:

1. If your child has an inclination towards science and mathematics and wants to attempt competitive exams, CBSE Curriculum should be the most chosen all time option.

2. Besides science and mathematics, your child may have an absolute interest in languages, arts, and find it fascinating to learn a huge syllabus in academics then ICSE curriculum should be the prime choice. 

3. Your child would have shown interest in international opportunities then to fulfil the passion to grow global, IB curriculum must be the most sought one. 

4. Apart from it, if your child's interest and intent is confined to local level then state level opportunities can serve the best by making an enrolment in the State board where the curriculum differs from state to state. 

   
   

Enroll a Board that Nourishes your Child’s Dream

Lack of guidance and knowledge about a board can make your decision in joining a right board go wrong. For instance, if you had admitted your child in a school governed by the state board, then the curriculum may not prove to be supportive that nourishes your child’s dream. In short, if your child’s dream is to build an educational career in IIT, Medicine, or overseas study at the UG level then the state curriculum is not demanding, you will have to immediately either shift to CBSE curriculum or help with supplementary courses that bridges the gap. 

Note: 

Looking at the desires and tastes of such a child who is interested in IIT, Medicine, educational institutions like Resonance Hyderabad, have taken an initiation. This educational institution has initiated an ‘intermediate course’ from the school level that serves the purpose of building the IIT NEET foundation. The Resonance schools focus on the state board syllabus and evenly impart the fundamentals of IIT NEET preparations. These schools encourage the passionate students to join the IIT JEE / NEET foundation who are studying between 6 and 10 standards. 

Summarization

If you want to make the right decision at an earlier stage in your child’s career, then put your child's skill sets under  scanner and get a professional analysis done. The skill sets include the grasping of subject, analytical skills, extra curricular activities and additional activities. After generating a complete report on your child’s abilities then you can make the best decision in selecting the right board that suits your child. Then, you can enroll your child’s admission either in CBSE Curriculum, ICSE Curriculum, IB Curriculum, or SB.