Making the best educational board choice for your child is a crucial choice that can have a big impact on their academic career. The International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) are two notable options in the Indian educational landscape. To assist parents in choosing wisely, we’ll examine the specifics of each system.
We will examine the distinctions between these two boards in order to make the best decision. The CBSE Board was established in 1929; it is run by the Indian government and is a part of the Ministry of Education. The main office is in Delhi. The Primary, Secondary, and Higher Secondary levels of the CBSE curriculum are separated into these levels. IB Board was established in 1968, and Geneva, Switzerland, serves as its corporate home. The IB curriculum offers four programs, each of which is based on a particular age group.
Program for the Primary Years (3–12 years)
Middle Years Program (for ages 11 to 16)
Program for Diplomacy (16-19 years old)
Program focusing on careers (for ages 16 to 19)
There are over 240 CBSE schools worldwide, spread across 26 nations. The majority of India’s 210 IB schools are located in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, and Chennai.
English, Spanish, and French instruction is available in IB board schools. While English is mostly utilized to teach in most CBSE board institutions. Some linked schools also utilize Hindi. Regional language use is encouraged as part of providing multilingual education, according to NEP (National Education Policy) 2020. It has been ordered by the Ministry of Education to publish textbooks in 22 languages.
IB evaluates students through both internal and external assessments. For the majority of courses, internal assessments consist of teacher-assigned tasks, while external assessments consist of exams. The CBSE board employs the Comprehensive Course Evaluation approach, which continuously assesses a student’s progress based on extracurricular activities. The board also oversees final exams for each academic year.
The IB Board curriculum is significantly more expensive than CBSE Board. The CBSE curriculum emphasizes constructive, experiential, and collaborative learning requiring the active participation of children in order to discourage rote learning via the passive accumulation of facts. The IB curriculum operates in a global environment, assisting students in comprehending other languages and cultures, examining important material, and gaining disciplinary and interdisciplinary understanding that satisfies high international standards.
Individuals who want to pursue government professions in India are considerably more likely to choose the CBSE curriculum. The CBSE is exceptional in giving students a solid foundation in topics like science and math’s. IB, in contrast, promotes a comprehensive grasp of multiple subjects through an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach to learning.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution when deciding between CBSE and IB. Both boards have advantages and disadvantages. You may make an informed choice that will set the basis for a successful educational journey for your child by studying the distinctive aspects of each curriculum and evaluating their needs.
