Boards For School Education In India

http://www.parentree.in/Parentree-editors/journal-183/Boards-for-school-education-in-India.html Sep 18, 2008 8:21 PM

India has a large number of boards for schools, and sometimes this can be confusing. Here is a short guide on what these different boards are.

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ICSE

• ICSE - Indian Certificate of Secondary Education.
• The syllabus is set by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations.
• CISCE Website - http://www.cisce.org.
• The examination is conducted once a year up to class X. For classes, XI and XII these schools follow ISC.
• A lot of schools throughout the country now adhere to the ICSE syllabus. After completing class X of ICSE, children can join any board - local or international.

ISC

• ISC - Indian School Certificate
  
• This board is followed for classes XI and XII.
• The syllabus is set by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations.
• CISCE Website - http://www.cisce.org
• The examination is conducted after a two-year course of studies beyond the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education examination (Class X) or its equivalent.
• It is recognised by all Indian colleges and universities.

CBSE

• CBSE - Central Board for Secondary Education.
• Schools following this curriculum have exams at the end of Class X and XII.
• This board was formed keeping in mind the children of parents who have transferable jobs.
• CBSE Website - http://www.cbse.nic.in.
• It is recognised by all Indian Colleges and Universities.

IGCSE

• IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) is a curriculum spread over classes IX and X.
  
• At the end of class X there is an evaluation, just like class X exams conducted by CBSE and ICSE.
• These exams are conducted by University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE).
• After completing IGCSE (class X) children are eligible to join any of the boards for classes XI & XII. It is recognised by all local as well as international schools.
• CIE IGCSE Website - http://www.cie.org.uk/qualifications/academic/middlesec/igcse/overview

Cambridge O-level

• O-levels provide a curriculum spread over classes IX and X.
• At the end of class X there is an evaluation, just like class X exams conducted by CBSE and ICSE.
• These are conducted by University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE).
• After completing O-levels (class X) children are eligible to join any of the boards for classes XI & XII. It is recognised by all local as well as international schools.
• CIE O-level Website -http://www.cie.org.uk/qualifications/academic/middlesec/olevel/overview

Cambridge A-level

• A-levels provide a curriculum for a two year course of study - classes XI and XII.
• At the end of the course there is an evaluation, just like class XII exams conducted by CBSE and ICSE.
• These exams are conducted by University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE).
• These are recognized by all Indian colleges and universities.
• CIE A-level Website -http://www.cie.org.uk/qualifications/academic/middlesec/olevel/overview

IB

• IB (International Baccalaureate) offers high quality programmes for children from ages 3 to 19.
• They offer 3 programmes Primary Years Programme (age 3-12), Middle Years Programme (age 11-16) and Diploma Programme (age 16-19). There are no exams till the Middle Years Programme.
• The IB Diploma Programme is recognised by universities all over the world. The IB programme was founded by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) based in Geneva, Switzerland.
• This diploma is recognized by all Indian colleges and universities
• IBO Website - http://www.ibo.org

Matriculation

• Matriculation Board is typically found in in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry schools.
• The syllabus is prepared by the Members of the Board of Matriculation Schools in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry
• These schools follow the Matriculation curriculum from LKG to Class X. After Class X (for XI and XII grades) they follow Tamil Nadu State board syllabus.
• Matriculation website - http://dge.tn.gov.in/matricsyllabus

State boards

• State Board - Virtually, every state in India has its own board.
• The examination is conducted by the State Education department at the end of Class X and XII.
• These are usually recognised by all Indian Colleges and Universities.

Other non-Indian boards

In addition to the boards listed above, most Indian colleges and universities recognize a number of other boards offered in other countries.

The Association of Indian Universities sets the guidelines for which non-Indian boards are accepted.

The website listed the following boards as being equivalent to an Indian +2 qualification (when accessed on September 18 2008)

• 12 years Baccalaureate Certificate of Afghanistan, France, Iraq and Tunisia.
• 12 years General Secondary Education Certificate of the Ministry of Education – Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and other Gulf countries.
• GCE/IGCSE/GCSE examinations of the approved British Examining Bodies in UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Mauritius with passes in 5 subjects at ‘Ordinary Level’ and 2 subjects at ‘Advanced Level’. For admission to professional courses – medical/engineering Advanced level passes in Physics, Chemistry, Biology/ Mathematics and English are essential besides 5(Five) passes at GCE 'Ordinary Level'.
• High School Diploma from accredited School of USA.
• Intermediate/Senior Secondary/Higher Secondary of the approved Boards in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.
• 12 years Secondary stage qualification of National Examination Board/Council of the Ministry of Education – Kenya,Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania.
• 12-years Secondary Stage Examination conducted by various Provinces in Australia and Canada
• GCE ‘Ordinary and Advanced’ level examination of the Department of Examination, Government of Sri Lanka
• 12-years STPM examination of Malaysia
• 12-years Secondary Stage qualification of Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Yemen Arab Republic,.
• Abitur of Germany
• 12-year High School Diploma awarded by the accredited American School/International Schools in other countries following American pattern of education.

Please check for any updates at the AIU website.