checking out schools for your kids. You’re wondering which curriculum is better. If you’re seeing CBSE and IGCSE options and you can’t decide which one is ideal for your kids, learning a few of the basic differences between the two will help you move forward with your decision.
Basics
The CBSE stands for Central Board for Secondary Education and is administered by the Central Government. Students who go to a school affiliated with the CBSE can look forward to education that is planned around the National Council of Educational Research and Training. The younger classes are easier but students from the 9th onwards will start feeling the pressure. It is easy to follow the CBSE board right from the start of schooling until kids reach secondary education. The IGCSE, on the other hand, stands for International General Certificate of Secondary Education and is administered by the Cambridge University. It is recognized by the University of Cambridge International Examinations and offers an education that focuses on teaching a creative and analytical approach. If you’re choosing a global international school in Singapore, you’ll need to decide between the CBSE and the IGCSE for your kid.
Role of Teachers
In this regard, the two are similar. Teachers act more as facilitators instead of delivering or directly feeding the information to the students. This makes it possible for the kids to make the choice for themselves. Through experiential learning, students are encouraged to investigate, ask questions, observe, and more. All these help them develop critical thinking and cognitive skills.
Levels of Education
The CBSE has two levels, one for Class X which is referred to as the AISSE, and the other one is for Class XII which is referred to as the AISSCE. Students who enroll in an IGCSE school, though, have levels that include the: AS, A, IB Diploma, and the North American APT.
Switching Boards
Some schools offer the boards separately. Some schools allow students to switch from one board of education to the other. Other schools that offer the IGCSE curriculum provide education that’s regarded as rigorous and well known for their difficult exams. Some of the schools that are affiliated with the CBSE Board, on the other hand, offer examination and education methodology.
Medium Language
The CBSE board sets English as a compulsory subject. However, it allows students to learn in both English and Hindi. The IGCSE board, on the other hand, only allows students to learn in English. Either way, though, students receive training in learning how to speak English. By starting early, they grow up comfortable with the language and this helps them achieve excellent fluency when they transition to adulthood. Learning the language opens up many academic and career opportunities for them in the future. With an increasingly global market, knowing how to speak English will help them navigate school programmes and career options with ease.
Teaching Methods
CBSE campuses follow a traditional method of learning in the sense that they focus on theoretical concepts. There are, however, no practicals and experiments IGCSE campuses, on the other hand, is student-centric and focuses on offering creative environments where students learn and thrive.
Learning Materials
For CBSE schools, students choose from a combination of subjects called streams. They also refer to the NCERT as well as government books for reference books. For IGCSE schools, though, students can choose from 70+ choices when it comes to subjects and there are no restrictions on the kind of books they can refer to. Any book that explains the concepts they study may be used.
Examinations
CBSE schools conduct the AISSE or All India Secondary School Examination and AISSCE or All India Secondary School Certificate Examination for the 12th and 10th classes. IGCSE schools conduct the Cambridge 1 and 2 as well as the Cambridge primary examinations. Depending on the school you choose for your child, these are the exams that they will need to prepare for.
Which One is Better?
There isn’t a single correct answer. Consider the needs of your child and your family. Also, while there are major differences between CBSE and IGCSE curriculums, choosing the right school is still a huge factor since the implementation depends on them. Some schools combine the CBSE with a Montessori-learning approach and that helps create a balanced and holistic approach to education and learning. If you want to make sure you choose the right school for your child, you’ll need to study the benefits that each school offers instead of relying on a blanket distinction between CBSE and IGCSE campuses.
These are some of the major differences between the two. If you can’t decide which curriculum works for your child, this comparative guide can tell you where to start with your research. It’ll give you a good sense of which curriculum makes for a better choice.
