IGCSE or CBSE or ICSE
17 November 2007
2 Comments
This question comes up very often and parents have to decide on which curriculum they have to go with.
The topic has been discussed several times and several people have written about it as well.
We have collected articles and discussions on this topic:
Our opinion (my wife followed ICSE and myself CBSE) is that ICSE gives you a good overall development and focus on literature is good but CBSE is more maths and science driven and gives you a slight edge for all the engineering competitive exams.
I agree with you, though believe education in India is changing quite rapidly. I moved on to CBSE during my later schooling years just to score higher marks in Maths & Science.
Talking about Maths & Science, there is site 24×7guru.com that assists students from both boards take self-assessment tests. This might help you in analysis.
Cheers
CBSE / ICSE-ISC
1. The English syllabus of the CBSE is better manageable than that of ICSE/ISC. While a broad-based syllabus is generally percieved to be good (an issue that needs to be debated in the current scenario of focused approach), it increases the load on students, thus leading to stress. A student should be given the option of studying only the basics of the language if his/her interests lie elsewhere. This choice is given in CBSE, not in ICSE/ISC. English is not compulsory even at the Cambridge International Examinations.
2. The CBSE syllabus is presented in a more scientific manner. The entire syllabus is divided into units and every unit is allotted the number of periods required to cover it in the year and also the weightage of marks it will carry in the examination. Thus, the teacher and student can plan the study of the various segments of the syllabus accordingly. Not so in ISC
3. The examination pattern of entrance examinations (IIT-JEE & PMT) follows that of CBSE since CBSE conducts these examinations. ICSE has no role in this. This puts those ISC students who are interested in competitive examinations at a disadvantage as they need to reorient themselves to a different system.
4. The ICSE syllabus (Class X) is very heavy compared to that of CBSE. ICSE has two papers in English, whereas CBSE has only one. ICSE has three papers in Science (Physics, Chemistry & Biology) whereas CBSE has only one. ICSE has two papers in Social Studies (History & Geography) whereas CBSE has only one. The school bag of an ICSE student is much heavier than that of a CBSE student.
5. Environmental Education is compulsory at the ICSE & ISC examinations whereas this is not so at the CBSE examination. CISCE, in a panic reaction to Supreme Court ruling regarding EE, rushed into it while CBSE is content to wait a review of this ruling where the matter may be dropped/modified.
6. From next year CBSE will give only grades in the examination results. This is seen as a progressive move. ICSE has not made such an announcement as yet; it is struggling to keep its head over the waters of internal (mis)management issues which may take quite some time to sort out.
7. It is a myth that ICSE is well recognized all over the world and not CBSE. Now UCAS recognizes CBSE at par with ISC .
8. CBSE has in recent years been very proactive in devising new courses that are academic with a vocational slant. It is more responsive to the needs of a dynamically changing pedagogical scenario. The NCERT connection makes it a very pro-active education board and not just an examining body.
9. The concept of “Front Line Curriculum” has been put in place in CBSE that requires syllabi be done on an on-going basis and 10 per cent of irrelevant or outdated material is replaced with more pertinent matter. CISCE has no academically designed process or programme for syllabi revision/upgradation.
10. CBSE has well-networked state-and national-level sports (both indoor and outdoor) activities. CISCE has a state and national level essay writing competition and debate.
11. Examination schedule in CBSE is more student friendly than that in CISCE.
12. The current leadership in CISCE does not inspire confidence, unlike CBSE and NCERT that has renowned educationists managing the affairs. CISCE’s unspoken but obvious policy of keeping out non-angloindians from key positions makes it an insular body with poor prospects for the future. For example, its decision making body, the Executive Committee, does not have a single non-angloindian on it; the Chairman and the Secretary are both anglo-indians with little or no credentials as educationists.
*******************
Leave your response!
Recent Posts
Categories
Archives
Tags
BangaloreSchools.net Best International School CBSE or ICSE or IGCSE expat schools bangalore Find good international school India International School India