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A Brief Review of the IGCSE Education Board

Choosing the right education board for your child is a difficult choice, especially if there are so many options in front of you like CBSE, ICSE, SSC, IGCSE among others. While you must have an idea about most of them, IGCSE is one, still, not many people are aware of, as it is the newest of them all in our country.

And if you’re here then it means you are considering this board for your child or are interested in knowing about it. There are some of the best IGCSE schools in Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, and Pune but before zeroing in on one board, be well aware of what IGCSE board has to offer too.

IGCSE or International General Certificate of Secondary Education offers a promising curriculum. This board is affiliated with the University of Cambridge and is recognized all over the world. The education system in India is witnessing a paradigm shift and its major driving force is the IGCSE board which has put the spotlight on the overall development of the personalities of students than just aiming to improve their academics. From the young age itself, this program directs students to develop analytical skills, creative skills and promotes their inquisitive bent of mind.

From letting the students choose the subjects of interest to facilitating advancement in core subjects like English, Maths, and Science, IGCSE keeps up with the changing requirements in the education sector. Along with this, rather than asking the usual theoretical questions in exams, the students taking exams under this board are required to application-based questions. 

Many students who have done their schooling from the IGCSE board call this approach a much forward one, for it not only makes studying interesting but also brings them to realize the actual application of what is being taught to them in classrooms. Not just this, studying in International schools also give students an edge over others when it comes to getting admissions in colleges or universities abroad. 

Of course, there are several advantages of every other board as well but as times are moving quite forward, it is always best to give your children the updated education. And IGCSE is the future, for sure.

If you are looking for top IGCSE schools in Bangalore then you can go for The International School, Asia Pacific World School, Canadian International School. In Mumbai, N.E.S. International School, Dr Pillai Global Academy, RIMS International School and Junior College are some of the best and in Delhi, you can try for The British School, Manav Rachna International School among others.

Advantages of CBSE Board Over State Board

The debate between which board is better for secondary education, the State Board or the Central Board, is everlasting. But CBSE board has an edge over the others, especially here in India due to various reasons. There are several top CBSE schools in Bangalore and other states which follow this board. Its curriculum or course syllabus is set by the National Council of Educational Research and Training, commonly known as NCERT. Here are a few advantages of CBSE:

CBSE is Homogenous, State is Not

Each state in the country has a separate education state board which is overlooked by the authorities of the respective state’s education department. Everything, from curriculum to the structure and paper pattern differs from state to state. Whereas, CBSE or Central Board of Secondary Education, as the name suggests is India’s national education board. The curriculum, teaching pattern, and material remains the same throughout the country. This makes transfers and changing schools for students in different states much easier, for the course remains the same irrespective of the state.

CBSE is more student-friendly

The education material in CBSE is designed in such a way that it helps students develop analytical abilities and reasoning skills. New ways like more questions with internal choices, higher focus on objective questions, etc. are being introduced and policies are being revised regularly to not endorse rote learning. CBSE does not put extra pressure on students but stresses on imparting quality education.

CBSE Aids IIT-JEE or AIIMS Preparations

Many students, after completing their school education, aspire to become Engineers or doctors and start their preparations for competitive exams of centralized education institutes like IIT-JEE or AIIMS. The students passed out from CBSE schools fair better in exams like these because these exams are also steered by CBSE. Hence, studying in a CBSE school serves as an added advantage.

CBSE Allows Flexibility

In India, CBSE is considered more flexible than other boards because it promotes customization when it comes to picking a few additional subjects from Grade VIII to XII, then be it in language or any other subject. For e.g., if a student wants to pursue Arts or Humanities along with Maths as an additional subject, he or she can as CBSE allows that sort of pick and choose combination option. The limits of customization may vary from school to school.

Though preferences, criteria for judgment of schools and boards might be different for different people, if one decides to go for CBSE, he or she must pursue education from the best CBSE schools in Bangalore or any other state in the country.

Ways to Enhance Critical-Thinking Skills in Your Child

In today’s ever-changing and rapidly growing world, it is essential that children can do more than a repetitive list of tasks. As a result of technological advancements, best CBSE schools in Bangalore and other cities have started following an all-inclusive curriculum that focuses not only on academic growth but also on the holistic development of students. Children need to have sharp critical-thinking skills that will help them analyze information, compare it, and create opinions. As we continue to progress into a technology-driven world, critical-thinking stands as one of the most vital skills that determine the child’s future. But what exactly are critical-thinking skills? Well, it merely means having the ability to imagine, execute, analyze, integrate, and assess the information gathered from observation, experience, or reasoning.

To develop strong critical-thinking skills, children should believe that thinking is fun and want to be good at it. As parents, your primary duty may sometimes be to ask open-ended questions and guide their thinking process. You can also encourage your child to experiment and refine theories on what causes things to happen. Parents can make this learning process fun and beneficial in a lot of ways. Let us look at some of the methods by which you can enhance critical-thinking skills in your child-

Develop reading comprehension skills in them- Reading comprehension skills is one of the most crucial skills children need to develop in order to build critical-thinking skills. You can encourage your kid to become capable and enthusiastic readers by making reading sessions a fun activity. This will help children to improve their ability to differentiate between various forms of information, understand each topic clearly, and analyze the same.

Ask questions- Enabling your kid to ask and answer questions frequently about what they have read is an excellent way to help them think actively as they study. It also allows children to concentrate on what they are learning about, and they can master the ability to understand and interpret better. As parents, this will help you to identify areas of trouble and find solutions to improve their comprehension abilities. 

Metacognition- Understanding one’s thought process and having awareness and knowledge about the same is known as metacognition. You can encourage your child to think about strategies that they can apply to understand a given paragraph or story. This will help to practice various ways to improve their understanding of the subject and eventually enhance their reading comprehension skills. You can sit with them and ask them questions about the why, where, who, when, and how of any given story or paragraph. 

Connecting the dots and summarizing- Children should be able to make connections while reading. By asking relevant questions, you can allow your child to practice critical-thinking skills and let them understand how one paragraph is associated with the other. You can also ask your child to summarize a story or chapter and determine what is essential in the same. This helps your child in remembering and make a critical analysis of potential outcomes, thus improving their critical-thinking abilities.

Developing critical thinking skills early in life helps kids to analyze the world around them with a better view. In an overloaded world of information and technology, top CBSE schools in Bangalore or elsewhere and parents need to promote fun and engaging activities in the child’s learning process that will help them to develop essential skills. These skills add value to the child’s education process and make them ready to compete in the future industry.

Know All About the Importance of Environmental Education in Schools

The importance of environmental education is explained in the words of Mollie Beattie, “In the long term, the economy and the environment are the same things. If it is unenvironmental, it is uneconomical. That is the rule of nature”.

What is Environmental Education?

In today’s world, education forms the basis for everything, including the environment. Environmental education is a process that allows students to explore the current environmental issues, involve themselves in problem-solving and to act upon to improve the environment. Some of the top IGCSE schools in Bangalore have taken the initiative to include environmental education into their curriculum. The curriculum brings nature into the classroom as well as take the students outside to learn. This helps the students to develop a better understanding of environmental issues and have the skills to make an informed and responsible decision.

Why Environmental Education?

Imaginations and enthusiasm are heightened- As it sparks imagination and unlocks creativity, it helps students get more enthusiastic and engaged in the learning, which leads to higher student achievement in the core academic areas.

Critical and creative thinking skills are enhanced- Students are encouraged to research, investigate how and why things happen and come up with their own solutions to tackle environmental problems.

Promotes Tolerance and Understanding- It encourages students to investigate varying sides of issues and helps them gain a different perspective of different cultures, thereby instilling a sense of cultural and social awareness in them.

Healthy lifestyles are encouraged- Environmental education gets students to go outside and address issues. This helps them become more proactive and aware of health issues like obesity, depression and ADD.

Helps in strengthening communities- This form of education promotes a sense of place and connection through community involvement. Students decide to learn more and take action to improve their surroundings. For the same, they reach out to community experts, volunteers and families and help to bring the community together and address environmental issues impacting their neighbourhood.

Responsible action is taken to better the environment- Through this form of education, students understand how their decisions and actions affect the environment. This helps them acquire the knowledge required to address complex environmental issues and keep our environment healthy and sustainable for the future generation.

Environmental education fosters sensitivity, appreciation, and respect for the environment- It increases the student’s interaction with their environment and makes them take decisions related to the same. Now that the students know how the environment is directly related to them, they become more sensitive and respectful towards the same, thus creating a habitable surrounding for society.

How Environmental Education Benefits Students?

Improves academic achievement- Students are engaged in exciting and practical lessons that teach them more about the natural world and provides them with an opportunity to enhance their scores in different subject areas and grades. This helps students to improve their test scores, thereby performing well in examinations and assessments.

Helps in breaking the indoor habit- Research has suggested that children who experience school grounds and play areas with diverse natural settings. This helps them to become more physically active and civil to each other.

Supports STEM- Environmental education offers an engaging platform for gaining and applying knowledge and skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This helps students to comprehend each subject better and understand how each topic is linked to another.

Improves focus and cognition- Such forms of education increase the ability of students to focus and improves their cognitive skills. Since students are more exposed to nature and understand how each activity affects the environment, incorporating this subject in the curriculum encourages problem-solving and critical-thinking skills in students.

Environmental education cultivates leadership qualities- Students are expected to interact with community volunteers and guide their teams when they are assigned projects. All of this helps them to builds leadership skills and makes them more confident.

Environmental education helps students because they can see the relevance of their classroom learning to the complex environmental issues confronting our planet. In an effort to provide high-quality education to students, some of the best IGCSE schools in Bangalore or other cities have started integrating environmental studies into their curriculum. Students, therefore, now understand the importance of the environment and put in their best efforts to make the world a better place.

5 Tips On Choosing The Perfect School For Your Child

Schooling is one of the most critical phases of a person’s life as it sets the foundation for the future ahead. Providing quality education is the topmost priority of parents. With the rapidly growing number of international schools in Bangalore and other cities, selecting the right school for your kid might seem like a daunting task. Choosing the right school could put your child on a path towards lifelong learning and build a successful career for themselves.

For many parents, enrolling their kid in a school with the best facilities and a good reputation is of paramount importance. We bring you the top 5 tips for choosing the best school for your child.

Proximity- 

For parents who do not want to enroll their child in a residential school, it is always advisable to look at the options available nearer to your house. Important for a child’s safety, proximity prevents the child from suffering repeated trouble of a long journey to and fro from school every day. Also, the parents should make sure that the traveling distance is short enough for them to reach the school quickly in case of any emergencies.

Teacher-student ratio-

The relationship or connection between the child and the teacher comes before the curriculum. Parents need to choose a school that provides a low teacher-student ratio since it gives teachers the liberty to understand every child’s needs. This helps in optimizing the student’s learning capabilities. Selecting a school that offers one teacher for every 30-35 students per class is considered beneficial for the child.

Academic curriculum and teaching methods-

These days schools follow a wide range of boards such as CBSE, IGCSE, SSC, IB, to name a few. Parents should assess their child or seek aid from trained counselors to decide which system suits them the best as per their interests and abilities. It is advised that parents choose a curriculum that encourages modern learning methods with the latest tools and technologies. 

Extra-curricular activities-

Since parents mostly focus on the academic aspect of the school, extra-curricular activities often go neglected. But activities like outdoor games, sports, drama or singing classes help build additional skills in the child. Parents should visit the schools and speak with the principal or teachers to ensure that the school provides proper facilities for extra-curricular activities.

Infrastructure-

When it comes to the infrastructure of the school, hygiene and amenities are some of the factors that a parent should look out for. Well-equipped labs, libraries, sports arena, and proper sanitation facilities give an extra boost to the child’s growth. It is essential to see if the school offers such facilities and provide an extra edge to the child’s development.

While the quality of education is usually of prime concern, developing your child’s creative and social skills is equally important. It may seem challenging to choose the perfect pick for your child since there are some of the best international schools in Bangalore and other cities that provide excellent amenities for the child’s growth. However, your child must get not only the best education but also a great learning experience.