CURRICULUM CHOICES IN INDIA

Of the many questions about home schooling, one question that plagues many parents is the choice of curriculum or best school for their child. It is indeed a difficult choice considering the plethora of schools, curricula, and education boards in addition to the logistics involved in 10-12 long and strenuous years of schooling.

So, for the ease of worried parents of pre-schoolers, primary school kids, high school children, home-schoolers, and other school-going children, we’ve collated all the information we could about popular education boards in India and the curriculum and pedagogy they follow.

Ready? Jump to Curriculum Choices– or read on for more info before checking out your options.

SOME IMPORTANT DISTINCTIONS

Before we dive in, let’s clarify a few terms that confuse many – curriculum, pedagogy, and education board.

Most people know that an education board is – the formal term is board of education – an institution that controls a system of education.

Curriculum refers to the content taught in the schools and other institutions attached – or affiliated – to a particular board. It includes expected learning outcomes and objectives.

Pedagogy is the approach to or method of teaching adopted by schools.

There is some grey area as far as the pedagogy is concerned in that some boards dictate the qualification of teachers to be recruited, the approach to be adopted while teaching, and other aspects of schooling. Other boards leave it completely to the discretion of the school.

Educational boards may also prescribe the skills a child should achieve before progressing to the next level.

School boards – as they are frequently called – may also prescribe a minimum age limit for a particular standard or grade.

As a general rule, after grade 8, most boards level off at age 14 for grade 10 and age 16 for grade 12. Generally speaking therefore, if your child is 14 years of age he or she is eligible to sit for the high school level (Grade X) examination. Similarly, he is eligible for Grade XII if he is 16 or above.

Bear in mind too, that though there is a minimum age criteria, there is no criteria for maximum age.

Related Read: Education System in India

There may be exceptions to the age mandate in under-performers or children who excel beyond expectations – child prodigies. In such cases, parents may approach the school authorities for proper procedure.

With this definition in mind, go ahead and scroll through the curriculum choices for your child.
You may also be interested in reading about NEP 2020, the New Education Policy recently introduced by the GoI.
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