International Schools in IndiaThis is a exclusive blog created by JustInternationalSchools for International Schools.

Parents of today’s generation, face different challenges from parents of a decade ago. A decade ago children would return home by 3.30 given both the child and parent ample of time to study, play and develop hobbies. Perhaps they have been picked up by a driver or a parent, or even by school bus. This is because even if they travelled long distances, there was not the density of traffic as there is today. So travel time was shorter. They would still have plenty of time to play outdoors, go out with their families and still have time for homework.

Moreover today in most of the families both parents are working professional that leaves very less space for family time. Parents today are lucky if see their children between 6 pm and 10 pm (4 hours) and luckier if they could have half an hour before school. Traffic snarls and road conditions have led to these extended travel times. Many International Schools are located beyond city limits or in the outskirts, this with the scorching traffic and early schedules creates a need to start school very early.

Having both father and mother working these days, it poses other challenges. Imagine a morning scenario with mother trying to push breakfast down junior’s throat while simultaneously getting ready for work and Father shouting for his clothes also trying to get ready, and the school bus hooting outside.

Think also of another context: You have just come into India from overseas, you are worried about your child’s schooling, you are not sure about the culture, you wonder if your child will fit in, if the food will agree with your child, if school will be anything like it is in your home country.

Still another scenario: You have lived and worked overseas many years and are now returning to India. You are bombarded with a plethora of ‘International” schools all selling similar produce. You are not quite convinced about whether the promise of their glossies will really be realities.

JustInternationalSchools was therefore started with an aim to provide first hand information about any International Schools across the world. And this first hand information would be coming straight from the first experiencer of truly inside information that is a School teacher, staff member at school or an students parent.

JustInternationalSchools, with its experienced educator-teacher-parent-alumni team has worked out some solutions to the challenges mentioned by offering the following:

• Affordable International School profiling in a detailed fashion
• Featured School listing for higher visibility
• Year-round admissions with support for mid-year entries
• Free facilities for teachers like “Teacher Job section” to post and find jobs in the Schools of interest
• A team of trained, experienced and seasoned counsellors and educationist in International education
• Ask questions, Discuss, Share and connect with parents having experiences in different International Schools
• Ask questions, Discuss, Share and connect with teachers having experiences in different International Schools
• Share articles, paper presentations, achievements, memoirs and experiences with the community
• If you are a School stay in touch with your current School parents and connect with prospective future parents
• Facility for admission facilities like uploading application form and school brochures
• International Schools can gain visibility through complete or selective advertising techniques on JustInternationalSchools
• Shout out and host our event details for free on JustInternationalSchools
• If you are a school and your hosting a contest, debate, competitor or anything in line with the same then we can help you get better response and participation
• Well we do have some thing for every one under the Education umbrella, if you’re a corporate dealing in school merchandise and want to reach prospects i.e. Schools or even parents then you are in the right place

More than 200 schools in India are Cambridge International Centres. University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) is India’s largest provider of international qualifications for children between 14-19 year’s olds. CIE is a not-for-profit organisation, and part of the University of Cambridge. Cambridge International education believes at educational excellence, which makes Cambridge qualifications – like IGCSE and International A/AS Level – renowned among universities and employers. This is why over 1.5 million students worldwide do Cambridge.

IGCSE assessment is conducted by two UK assessment bodies: Edexcel (also known as London Examinations) and Cambridge International Examinations (CIE). Any student who has passed IGCSE is eligible for any +2 level qualification, like Class 12 CBSE/ ICSE or any international pre-university programme, like the IB Diploma, Advanced Placement Diploma (US), and A/AS Level & AICE (UK).

Some of the renowned good IGCSE (Cambridge International) Schools in South India are Abhyasa Residential Public School Toopran, D.R.S. International School, Indus International School Hyderabad, International School of Hyderabad, Kennedy High The Global School, Bangalore International School, Canadian International School, Greenwood High School, Indus International School, Inventure Academy Bangalore, Mallya Aditi International School, Prakriya Green Wisdom School Bangalore, Sarala Birla Academy Bangalore, The International School Bangalore (TISB) Bangalore, TREAMIS World School Bangalore, TRIO World School, Vidyashilp Academy, Trivandrum International School, Achariya World School Thegaithitttu, Good Shepherd International School Nilgiris, Crescent School Chennai, J.S.S. International School Ootacamund and The Indian Public School Erode. IGCSE International Schools in Western India are Billabong High International School, Laxmi Global School Valsad, Ryan Global School, The Riverside School, The Emerald Heights International School Indore, Aditya Birla World Academy, B.D. Somani International School, Billabong High International Schools Mumbai, Bombay International School Mumbai, Ecole Mondiale World School, New Era High School Panchgani, Podar International School, The Cathedral Vidya School, Lonavala, The Lexicon International School Pune and The Mahindra United World College of India. IGCSE International Schools in North India are Amity Global School Pushp Vihar, Pathways World School, The Scottish High International School, Sapphire International School Ranchi, Trivandrum International School, DPS International Saket, The British School – New Delhi, Step By Step School Noida, Ryan International School – Greater Noida, Mussoorie International School, G D Goenka World School Gurgaon, Unison World School Dehradun and Woodstock School. IGCSE International Schools in East India are Calcutta International School Kolkata, Academy for Professional Excellence Calcutta and South City International School Kolkata.

There are very few IGCSE exclusive Schools in India some like Dhirubhai Ambani World School, Ecole Mondiale World School, International School Bangalore, Hebron School Ooty, and Mallya Aditi International School are some of the prestigious ones recognised by Cambridge.

The Cambridge School Kolkata and The Cambridge School Guwahati are the first international schools in Calcutta to be affiliated to any foreign university and the first ones to hold board examinations in its own premises. The faculty here are qualified and dedicated and most teachers are highly experienced in the ‘O’ and ‘A’ Level formats.

Schools that are accredited to Edexcel or CIE for the conduct of the IGCSE programme are known as Edexcel Centres or Cambridge International Centres. From parents’ or students’ perspective, there is little difference between the two. Some schools are accredited to Edexcel and some to CIE. For example, DPS International in Delhi is an Edexcel IGCSE centre, while the Pathways World School in Gurgaon is a CIE IGCSE centre.

Then there are some like Calcutta International School in Kolkata and British School in Delhi, which are centres of both Edexcel and CIE.

For any queries and to know more about International schools across the world please visit www.justinternationalschools.com.

An international school truly by the name signifies a school meant for children who may, not be in their host country or children who would like to have an exposure to a diverse international curriculum with practical based learning. Such schools also do not stress upon children learning the local language.

International schools are thus very popular among parents whose children are constantly on the move, for example children of parents working for multinational organizations, top management personnel’s, NGO’s, embassy staff etc. Although the popularity and need of such schools evolved through the above criteria, however International schools are not restricted to these sectors only. Now-a-days, with rising demands in the corporate sector, more and more students aspire to get admissions into foreign universities. Education methodology in a truly international school also increases higher education prospects as well as employment chances in foreign countries.  The trend today shows that international schools in India are also becoming very popular with local residents as it gives children an opportunity to improve their language skills.

Early international schools in many countries were established by expatriates who found them selves working in various parts of the world, bringing with them children who needed to receive education that would suit their overall progress. The early international schools were set up with the help of nations having large interests in the host countries. Some of the earliest international schools were founded in the second half of 19^th century. Countries like Japan, Switzerland, Turkey and UK were the pioneers in establishing international schools and curriculums.

The curriculum of most international schools is based on the country of origin and set criteria’s by the governing organization. Most of the top class international schools are accredited to reputed learning institutes either in U.S. or U.K. or Switzerland.  Many international schools use curricula especially designed for international schools such as International General Certificate of Secondary Education or the International Baccalaureate, (IB) Diploma Programme and other country specific baccalaureates. The faculties at International Schools are usually certified by standards of their origin country. The faculties in these schools have an extra edge over the teachers of state curriculum schools as they have a larger exposure and advanced degree. However, there are always exceptions. The most common exception being that, an International School requires a teacher specifically trained for an International syllabus or for teaching a foreign language that is not common in the international schools country. Recruiting teachers for International Schools many a times has proved to be a tedious process according to international schools and this is usually done at large international job fairs where schools can interview and hire several teachers at one time.

Just like how a strong foundation is essential for a sturdy building, good education forms the basis of a child’s overall development. Choosing a good international school is thus an integral part of one’s life. What truly distinguishes a normal school from an international school are parameters like infrastructure, passionate teaching staff, teacher to children ratio less than 1:25, healthy and pollution free location and international teaching norms reflecting quality and excellence. International Schools have come a long way and evolution packed with innovation is the key process driving it.

This article has been written by Amitava Sen Working for JustInternationalSchools.com, one of the trusted information providers of International schools in India.

Bangalore is fast becoming a multi-racial, multi-cultural society and hence there is always an increasing demand for International Schools. Being truly international is determined by the curriculum followed, making it easier for children to adapt as parents shuttle between countries. Many international schools in Bangalore follow International programs like International Baccalaureate (IB), International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and other American Curriculum. Many international schools in Bangalore feel that IB Diploma program is an entry card for placements to good professional colleges overseas.

According to many parents and teachers, International School curriculums integrate several methods largely US, UK and Canadian based. International Schools emphasize on extracurricular activities, good facilities, low teacher-student ratio, practical-based learning and balance between study and play. Many parents in Bangalore believe that the deciding factor should never be international tags, fancy brochures, attractive campus and glamorous talks. Bangalore has a privilege to be a host to many top International Schools of the country according to many parents and academicians.

A list of best International Schools in Bangalore includes the countries top like American Friendship Residential School, Akash International School, Bangalore International School, BGS International School, Buddhi School, Canadian International School, Dayananda Sagar International School, Deccan International School, Ebenezer International School, Freedom International School, Gitanjali International School, Greenwood High School, Gear Innovative International School, Gopalan International School, India International School, Indus International School, International Academy For Creative Teaching, Inventure Academy, Jain International Residential School, Mallya Aditi International School, Mission10x Wipro Ltd, Oasis International School, Prakriya Green Wisdom School, Primus Public School, Royale Concorde International School, Ryan Global School, Sarala Birla Academy, S G International School, South East Asian International School, Sri Devaraj Urs Internatonal Residential School, SSB International School, Swaminarayan International School, Stonehill International School, The International School Bangalore (TISB), TREAMIS World School, Trio World School, Vibgyor High- Bangalore, Venkat International Public School and Vidyashilp Academy.

The Canadian International School follows a Canadian International curriculum and has teachers from Canada and US, it also conducts a Montessori method for the kinder-garden section. The higher classes follow an Ontario Secondary School Program. The student body in this school is a mix and match of kids from various nationalities like Canada, Singapore, China, UK, France, Taiwan, Japan etc. Some good international schools like TRIO World School, Bangalore International School, The International School- Bangalore, National Academy for Learning International Schools, Mallya Aditi International School and Ebenezer International School follow the IGCSE International programs from pre-kinder-garden to grade 5 to grade 12. In most of these schools the child needs to complete 3 years of age by August when the session begins. Grades 9 and 10 follow the IGCSE program from Cambridge International University and 11 and 12 graders study another program the IB Diploma. Most of the schools mentioned above have both day scholars and residential boarders.

Some good international schools following the IB curriculum include Stonehill International School, Canadian International School- Bangalore, Indus International School, The International School Bangalore, Sarala Birla Academy and TREAMIS World School. Extracurricular activities in schools include swimming, squash, billiards, golf, horse riding, tennis, scrabble, dance, theatrics and in some schools even web design. Those children with good 10^th standard grades and consistent academic record can do an IB Diploma.

Sessions of most International Schools in Bangalore start in August and admissions to international schools is open throughout the year.

Indus International School near Sarjapur, Bangalore offers IB, Primary Year’s Program up to Grade 5 and Cambridge Examination for Grades 9 and 10. They also offer IB Diploma program for grades 11 and 12. The campus is around 40 acres, spacious with mini stadium for track and field sports too. Inventure Academy follows both Indian School Certificate Examination (ICSE) and IGCSE, which makes it popular among parents and students. This international school has tennis and basketball courts, cricket pitch, football and hockey grounds. Many International Schools adhere to a maximum of about 30 kids per class to ensure proper attention and guidance to every child.

Another fairly new International School with good campus and facilities is TREAMIS World School near Electronic City. Students here have an opportunity to choose from either Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) or IGCSE curriculum. They have a huge size swimming pool with patient instructors. Another school one could consider checking is Bangalore International School which started way back in 1969 and is truly ‘international’. Kids here follow the Cambridge International Primary Program and IGCSE and the school is known for its academics and extracurricular engagements. They also have a hostel facility, which is off campus; though authorities claim it’s well supervised.

If looking for best International schools in Bangalore, you need to visit and start the process by October or November. In most of the above schools, admission to Grade 6 and above is after a written test. For lower grades the schools usually meet the parents and child and decide. Keep the reports and recommendations from the child’s previous school/playschools the child has attended at hand.

This article has been written by Amitava Sen Working for JustInternationalSchools.com, one of the trusted sources for information about International schools in Bangalore.

Many of us face a dilemma when it comes to choosing the best international school for our children. Most of the international school websites are very flashy and provide almost the same kind of content and facilities for the visitor. All the top international school associations mentioned below focus on a bicultural and bilingual education. Countries like India, Japan, China, and in particular Hong Kong, have the best and widest range of international schools in the region catering to a large expatriate population.

According to Just International Schools, when looking for international schools parents have a difficult choice to make. Some of the renowned school bodies dealing with international schools are University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), The British curriculum (international GSCEs and A levels), the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), Council of International Schools (CIS), International School Award (ISA) managed by the British council, East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS), Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), European Baccalaureate and  French Baccalaureate.

1. The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) is a non-profit educational foundation; it has three programmes for students aged 3 to 19. IBO was founded in Geneva, Switzerland and the three programmes include the primary years programme (PYP), the middle years programme (MYP) and the diploma programme (DP). The IBO is currently working with 3,147 schools in 140 countries to develop and offer three challenging programmes to over 906,000 students aged 3 to 19 years.
2. University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) is the world’s largest provider of international qualifications for students between 14–19 year olds and is a part of the University of Cambridge.  Cambridge International Education is divided into Cambridge Primary (5-11 years), Cambridge Secondary 1 (11-14 years), Cambridge Secondary 2 (14-16 years) and Cambridge Advanced (16-19 years) comprising of A and AS levels.
3. The British curriculum is the United Kingdom’s international non-profit organization headquartered in USA has cultivated long-term links between the US and UK. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are home to some of the world’s top universities, students take examinations in a range of subjects at the level of General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). The GCSE of UK is a single-subject examination set and marked by independent examination boards.
4. International School Award (ISA) is an accreditation scheme for curriculum-based international work in schools. Over 10,000 International School Awards have been presented to successful schools since the scheme began in 1999, this scheme provides recognition for teachers and their schools.
5. Council of International Schools (CIS) is a premium organization in the International Education, for the accreditation of schools and best practices development. CIS is a truly international education community that comprises of over 650 member schools and around 450 colleges/universities. This body has experience of K-12 education in more than 100 countries and many of its council officers are former heads and principals of international schools.
6. The East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS) is an organization of 115 schools members in Eastern Asia. These schools have a total of even more than 83,000 pre-K to 12th grade students and over 9,000 teachers and administrators. EARCOS simultaneously has 120 associate members—youth organizations, etc— and over 26 individual members.
7. Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is an organization that acts as one of the six regional associations that accredit public and private schools, colleges and universities in the United States. The Western region covers institutions mainly in California, Hawaii, the territories of Guam, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, the Pacific Basin, and East Asia, and areas of the Pacific and East Asia where American/International schools may apply to it for service.
8. The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) Australia provides diverse pathways to further study or training at university or TAFE and to employment.  The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) is an independent statutory body directly responsible to the Victorian Minister for Education, serving both government and non-government school children between ages 0-18 years.
9. The European Baccalaureate or EB is awarded to students who successfully managed to complete a European School. These schools are mainly attended by students whose parents work for a European Institution. Currently there are around 13 European schools; it is taken at the end of the seventh year of secondary education.
10. The French Baccalaureate also known as le bac is an academic qualification which French and international students take at the end of the secondary education. It is the main diploma required to pursue university studies and much like British A-Levels or European Matura, the baccalaureate allows French and international students to receive it typically at the age of 18. Within France, there are three main types of baccalaureate degrees namely the baccalaureate general (general baccalaureate), the baccalaureate professionnel (professional baccalaureate) and the baccalaureate technologique (technological baccalaureate).

Entrance to top universities has become increasingly competitive in recent years because more and more countries can afford to send their youth abroad to be educated.  These trends indicate that students need to prepare well in advance to achieve a quality place at a higher education institution. Some schools focus on a bicultural and bilingual education while others create a miniature version of native language inside the school gates. Achieving fluency in the language of study will ensure entrance to a foreign university. Developing academic ability and developing leadership, team-mindedness’s, self- management skills, communication, soft-skills are all core elements of any international curriculum.

For any queries and to know more about international schools across the world please visit http://www.justinternationalschools.com

India is becoming one among the favorite destinations for many international schools now- a-days providing world class education. With increasing per capita disposable income and rising competition parents are looking forward to enroll their children in the best schools in terms of international standards and quality of education. With rising competition and job needs, the choice of the right school ensures that the seed for best education has been already sowed. Education does not only mean academics but more than that, essential for the all round development of children.

Education in India is starkly differentiated, on the one hand there are the schools which have ‘chalk and talk’-styled teaching methodology which, stuff the children with outdated information, while on the other hand there are those which actually teach your child to analyze, understand participate in non-academic activities and apply knowledge in context.

International schools follow the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. International schools follow NCLB rule that is; No Child Left Behind and every student is given proper care and training. International Schools have the following subjects: Languages, Arts, Mathematics, Sciences, Humanities, Physical education, Information Technology, and Design Technology. The IB Diploma Programme is an academically challenging curriculum that prepares students for success at university and applying at foreign degree.

The education system in India is very vast and there are a large number of international schools located all over India. India not only attracts local students but also foreign students for pursuing international education. India offers high quality programs of international quality and caliber. India is a home to world class international schools offering better infrastructure, quality of teachers and they focus on all round development of children. However, the fee of education in International Schools is also very high, as compared to schools teaching Indian boards like CBSE or ICSE. Many International schools in India have a student exchange program methodology and even grant scholarships to meritorious students. Apart from this, some international schools also provide assistance to parents for availing education loans and other financial aids. An educational consultant is provided to every student on a regular basis, for regular mentoring of the student. School students having difficulty in academics are continuously monitored and encouraged to perform well through special sessions. Some international schools provide facilities of higher education to the working population, who wish to upgrade their education or acquire knowledge in various disciplines. It helps the students to upgrade educational qualification for academic achievements in the process of life long education.

How do parents know if the school is truly international?

• A quick glance through the website of the school will tell you about the atmosphere of the school
• The students, staff and teachers coming from various cultures and societies teach a syllabus which is diverse and represents a global perspective
• A common misconception is that if the school offers any one or a combination of international curriculums such as the American, Canadian, the GCSE (British), the IB or the IGCSE (the international component of the British GCSE), it automatically becomes an international school. However, these assumptions are incorrect because the word international truly means an environment where cross-cultural contact and pedagogy is practiced and the only two systems which actually incorporate this are the IB and the IGCSE. Many international schools in India offer a combination of the ICSE, IGCSE and the IB. The first two evolving from a common parenthood, the Cambridge University system, while the IB saw its beginnings in Switzerland to aid the children of diplomats.

In India, international schools provide every student freedom to explore them selves and discover a whole new world of creativity. The well trained and best faculties are given to every individual. India is a multi cultured, multi linguistic and multi cultured country a home to people from different walks of life so this becomes a benefit to children of Non-Indian origin. They can still have the same international exposure and quality of education that is taught in schools in their countries. Students in international schools in India are also exposed to different culture, language, religion and race. It helps build a good community and a friendly environment. An interesting element which is completely absent in the national curriculums like ICSE and CBSE is the process of integrating knowledge which allows students to make connections with students across disciplines and cultures.

During IB Diploma Programme students study six courses at higher level or standard level. In this course students study six subjects chosen from the six subject groups, complete an extended essay ,follow a theory of knowledge course (TOK),participate in creativity, action, service (CAS). English, French and Spanish are the three compulsory subjects. They also emphasis on extra-curricular activities like sports, dramatics and talent shows. The IB and IGCSE curriculum insists on instilling what it calls, “international mindedness or intercultural awareness” right from the PYP (Primary Year Program) level in case of IB programme.

Most of the schools in India only offer the Diploma Program that is equivalent to the 11th and 12th year of study in India. Lack of trained teachers and costs of assimilation make the offering of IB courses in India very difficult. Many international schools have a mix of Indian and international teachers but deal with a homogenous group of students with an exception of few like Mahendra United World College near Pune (only DP) and the Kodaikanal International School (MYP and DP) which offer a truly international experience, admitting students from all over the world. Parents must avoid schools which only offer international facilities but not the curriculum or atmosphere.

Apart from this there lies a concern, the cross-over from an international curriculum to an Indian curriculum is not very easy. The association of Indian Universities has been unfair to IB. The Diploma Program marks students on a scale of 1 to 7 where 1 is very poor and 7 is excellent. When the same is converted to an Indian system, 6 and 7 represent a broad bandwidth of marks between 80% and 100%. Thus the cut off for top colleges just varies in decimal places raises a question mark on 6 or 7.

Therefore, the question is an international school worthwhile? Absolutely! If you can afford the best for your children then why not offer them the best. Similarly, parents and school authorities must disclose the right information with regards to being truly international. According to JustInternationalSchools there is no denying that international education prepares children for a multicultural future and the same in India, offers the best of both worlds – the traditional and modern.

Some examples of International School in India following the IB curriculum are the Dhirubhai International School, StoneHill International School, Kodaikanal International School established in 1901 was the first international school in India to attain the International Baccalaureate Diploma program in 1976, Oakridge International School and the American International School in Mumbai (offers all three courses PYP, MYP & DP).

Some examples of International schools in India following the IGCSE curriculum are Mallya Aditi International School, Singapore International School, Good Shepherd International School, Woodstock International School and Stonehill International School to name a few.

A host of top reputed and quality boarding schools dot the country of India. India is known since history for its cosmopolitan culture which is very well reflected in its educational institutes and schools.

You may not want your child to go to a residential facility, but you may be looking for the best for them. The choice of the right residential school is vital. JustInternationalSchools believes this because one chooses the wrong school and you may waste your money and not give your children the chance to turn their life around. The initial years of children’s schooling are very critical, therefore it is imperative that we choose the right school for our children so that we could tap their full potential and enhance their personality. Just because a residential facility boasts that it provides loads of facilities, should not be a controlling factor your decision.

As sad as it may be, there are some schools which do not deliver what they promise. That’s why you have to be especially vigilant and make informed decisions. A residential school is one where students live in with fellow students and stay in the hostels while pursuing their studies. Some schools offer residence as an option for outstation students while in some others, availing the residence facilities of the school is compulsory. Residential schools in India essentially provide food and lodging for a specific fee. Students share rooms or dormitories and remain under the guidance of house master or house mistress or matron.

If you are looking for best residential schools in India, one needs to check for parameters like overall performance in academics and extra curricular activities like sports and so on. Students of residential schools have been judged on the basis of the performance at the national and international level.

The two basic steps to take the right bat off are check if the school of choice is accredited and if the facility is being registered.

State authorities require such institutions to be registered. If the school is not registered it may be operating outside the law of the country. There are also some non-profit groups which take it upon themselves to evaluate and monitor facilities to help kids and this is infact charged. Such residential schools in India will have a rating probably on the web site of the non-profit group.

Make sure you have inquired about aspects like the experience of the staff, is the staff trained and past history of the schools reputation. Matters like what academic studies do children undertake when in residence? Do the subjects and standards match in with what they have been studying? The child must maintain their academic progress and even improve their grades and hence this needs to be carefully scrutinized.

Other important considerations are medical care during the residential period. Points that need to be clarified are whether there is enough medical staff available on site? If your child has a medical condition you would want to be assured that the residential facility can handle any emergency; similarly with discipline. What is the policy on discipline and how is it handled?

A proper policy for acceptance of students needs to be in place. Be wary of any institution which takes anyone and everyone. Surely, you want the highest standards for your child. This also reflects on areas like how many of the residents go home with a changed attitude after they leave school?  Connect with parents of kids who have been through the school system of India and you would definitely know more. Last but not the least if one can afford the programme.

Some of the discipline areas strictly observed and maintained in Residential schools in India

ü  Silence and discipline are the top priorities, should be maintained in the dormitory, dining room, study room and bath place at the best top residential schools in India

ü  Parents as well as others are not entertained in the dormitory of the children

ü  During weekdays and school hours parents are strictly prohibited from visiting children’s wards. Parents are allowed to visit children’s wards only on 2nd and 4th Sundays

ü  Parents are allowed to visit their children in the meeting parlor only. Dormitories and Corridors must not be used for this

ü  Written permission from parents if guardians are to take the children anywhere from the hostel

ü  Good residential boarding schools in India don’t entertain any enquires over the phone during school working hours

ü  No leaves would be granted to students without prior sanctioning from the authorities, as under the policy of best boarding schools in India

ü  Such schools do not allow students to carry any valuable things, money, magazine, walkman and eatables with them

ü  Advise to students to label all the items brought by them with their register number

ü  A duplicate key of the lock brought by the student should be deposited with the warden

ü  Students could visit their parents after each terminal examination. A fine is generally charged now a days which is about Rs. 50/- if the student fails to show up on the specified date

ü  Parents are expected to lodge their valuable suggestions and complaints only to hostel warden / principal

ü  At our best residential schools in India, Students should follow the mess timings and table manners strictly

Success during examinations is a key resultant of knowledge, speed and the ability to write precise and yet correct answers. However these days another major contributor of success and memory is technology enabled teaching in schools. JustInternationalSchools strongly believes that, technology-enabled learning can truly nullify social and economic boundaries by making teaching in classes highly interactive.

A large number of companies are going the digital way by offering high quality content to students from making Pre-school toddlers to school going children ready for the next level. The intervention of technology in has changed our outlook to life and methods of instruction in International schools, other Schools and Pre-Schools. Although the classrooms that our grandparents went to are exactly the kind of classrooms our children study in~ Chalk and blackboard, a packed classroom, text books, regimented curriculum, a teacher painstakingly explaining abstract concepts with the limited tools at her disposal.

But in today its more than just imagining, a Science teacher explaining how the germination of a seed takes place, a History teacher teaching about the Indus Valley Civilization and a Geography teacher teaching how mountains and deserts are formed all with the help of online and digital teaching techniques. Teachers will try to explain such concepts to the best of their abilities, and students listen to the teachers trying hard to decipher the figures drawn on the blackboard and by reading from their text book’s, even try to take notes and try hard to visualize how it all appears.

Thanks to the technology enabled transformation brought about in the methods of teaching- a Science teacher is able to explain germination of seed by showing it as a 3D animation process on a large screen. She can explain the finer details of the process zoom in or zoom out and similarly, the History teacher is actually able to walk the class through the early age civilizations & even engaging sound, animations, music, colors and voice. In many International schools today every child in the class is given a visual input on the concept and there is a better level of interest during the teaching session.

Another aspect is e-learning commonly refers to training delivered electronically in an organizational setting, while Online Learning is used to differentiate courses delivered via the internet in educational settings.

E learning is another concept that is widely catching up, it is a medium of instruction delivered on a computer via internet or CD-ROM. The worldwide e-learning industry is estimated to be worth over thirty-eight (38) billion euros according to conservative estimates. India and its schools have realized the importance of e learning, it is estimated to grow at 80-100% on yearly basis for next 5 years.

According to some industry sources the comparison between online software & related services and E learning and the possible growth opportunities are as given below:

The benefits of e-learning for International schools are definitely the increased access of technology by students, convenience and flexibility of learners, along with development of necessary skills and competencies needed in the 21^st century for digital literacy skills required in any discipline, profession or career. It can be self paced or instructor led and includes media in the form of videos, text and audio and builds user knowledge on a given subject. Many parents have enrolled their children in training institutes, for online learning on the web from home, which is much safer than having to go to a tuition center after school hours. Many online learning centers today, provide subject wise subscription of online training package where the children can solve problems, learn concepts and even have a online tutor taking the student through the content simultaneously.

Technology enabled learning, brings abstract and difficult curriculum concepts to life inside classrooms and makes learning in schools more enjoyable and memorable along with improved academic performance across students.

In today’s highly competitive world, school children have to face a lot of mental stress, as it’s not only important to have an excellent grade at school but also participation in co-curricular activities. The all round development of the child equally depends on the involvement into school co-curricular activities.

School is a foundation that prepares children for the future endeavors, only being brilliant does not make the student a productive citizen’s responsible citizen of the country. Given today’s scenario of the fast paced world around us children are expected to be equally active in non-academic activities. Students who are a blend of academic and co-curricular activities are able to tackle situations like admissions into institutes for higher studies, job interviews, corporate pressure and live a well balanced life. These activities help develop the overall personality and boost the moral of children. Its will be incorrect for parents and school authorities if they say school education is for better employment rather its for nurturing the children’s talents in fields like sports, dance, music etc. School children must learn how to manage their time between study and other activities. Another advantage of co curricular activities is that they help a student in building up their skills or nourishing their inner capabilities.

For instance a student who’s a good debater will be able to apply his knowledge when they are facing any interview since he has good communication skills. Moreover, to get admitted in many Top Institutions or International Schools today, it is essential to know any of the activities other than academic’s- like sports, clubs or music. Playing various sports like cricket, football, skating, tennis develops physical strength and while mind games like chess and puzzles develops mental skills. Although it is not always about succeeding, there is a positive quality of good sportsmanship imbibed in the students, standards of conduct such as being respectful of opponents and officials, and congratulating the winner when losing.

Thus co-curricular activities at school are not a diversion but rather an extension of a good educational program. Students who participate in activity programs tend to have higher grade-point averages, better attendance records, lower dropout rates and fewer discipline problems than other students generally. Activity programs provide valuable lessons for practical situations – teamwork, sportsmanship, winning and losing, and hard work.

International education has been compared with other globally marketed goods and services such as soft drinks and hamburgers: a reliable product conforming to consistent quality standards throughout the world. This articles brings out the benefits of International education,  to an extent such that, now a days International Schools constitute a network of independent franchised distributors, of globally branded international education products and services.

Like it or not, we are all branded, International education as the term signifies the type of education offered within a wide variety to choose from popularly known as International Schools. These schools serve the needs of globally mobile children with a diverse culture and background. However, many a times it is falsely stated that International Schools are those where International education takes place. This can be argued because an International School may offer a curriculum which makes no claims to be international unlike an International Baccalaureate (IB) or International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE). International schools operate in local markets all over the world, as franchised distributors of globally branded international education products and services such as International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) , Cambridge International education(CIE) and the US based college board Advanced Placement International Diploma(APID). International Schools infuses a fresh talent in the society in terms of quality assurance through, the application of internationally accredited curriculum, the spread of global accredited procedures, the spread of global education standards and global certification of educational qualifications. Branding international education in a host country facilitates educational continuity for children of global mobile clientele, as well as the host country clientele with a outlook towards social mobility and global exposure.

An international School by image is more in itself a brand because it can be identified with an overall customer experience and distinguishes itself by its position relative to its competition. It can be argued that, schools act as retailers of products i.e. academic qualifications that are manufactured by examination boards. Its more like a symbiotic relationship where schools and boards are joined together, because the educational boards requires the schools knowledge of local markets while the schools derive benefit from their association with their name and reputation of the branded product that they are retailing. The establishment of quality standards through accreditation is a critical part of the franchising process. IBO for example is promoting “IB World Schools” which are authorized to offer programmes of the IBO using a trade marked logo. Marketing and branding of international education operates in two levels: symbolic and serviceable ~because it communicates ideas and power and at the same time satisfies human needs.

International schools are now a days also offering range of Indian curriculums which allows its brand stretching. However, it is important to ensure that this process does not dilute the core values of the brand, thereby weakening its proposition. Stretching of International programmes maybe by vertical, with different programmes serving unique age group example in case of IB it is from IB Diploma (IBDP) to Middle Years (IBMYP) and Primary Years (IBPYP) Programmes. Secondly, horizontal with a range of programmes serving same ages for example The Cambridge International Examinations board is horizontally stretched to include GCE Advanced(A) levels and The Advanced International Certificate of Education(IGCSE) towards the same age cohort. In context of international education, brand stretching may be identified as International Schools diversifying into new areas like different student ages, different subjects or different modes of assessment.

Product branding is ultimately the future of the International School, the aim of branding is to retain the consumer loyalty in this case the parents and encourage repeat purchases of services i.e. possibility of any siblings attending the same school. Applied to International Schools the functional attributes of brand personality of the school include transferability of qualification to other educational systems and their recognition by higher educational institutions, the language of instruction, curriculum content and mode of assessment.  The International board bodies are considered global brands since they are strong in their home markets, have a geographical balance in sales and address similar consumer needs in different countries and thirdly maintain a product category focus by being associated with a particular product identifiable with a corporate name.