Education Boards like CBSE, ICSE, IB and More

The world is vast and diverse. It has 7 continents and 195 countries in the present times. As a result, since ancient times the thinking and culture of different societies have always been different. Therefore, the education system and education boards of different areas and different groups of people have been different.

When education was acknowledged in a formal and systematic way, there was a need for an education board, under which the system should function. This is what an education board is. As the education system of different societies has been different, the education board has also been different for different areas.

For now, our discussion must relate to India. India is a vast country with diverse cultures, languages, and huge populations. So, as a result, India itself has many education boards. The majority are ICSE, CBSE, CISCE, CIE, NIOS, IB, SSC and State Boards.

Let us bring light on the different boards we know that are majorly present in India. Let us understand the pros and cons of the various education boards.

Central Board of Secondary Education

The CBSE or Central Secondary School Board is one of the most popular and recognized educational institutions in India. Thousands of schools in India, and even some schools abroad, are members of this school board. CBSE is one of India’s standard schools of education, and most schools in India are affiliated with this school board.

This is a widely accepted, education board in many private and public schools. This board is controlled and managed by the Central government of India and has its headquarters in Delhi, the capital city of India. The CBSE affiliated schools are meant to follow the NCERT books that are universally the same all over India.

The board stresses the application part of the STEM subjects, that is, science and Maths. The passing criteria of this board is an aggregate of 33% in both theory and practical subjects and exams individually. If one fails in one or more subjects, the student is obliged to appear for the compartment exams in the respective subjects.

If the individual fails in the compartment exam, the student is obliged to appear for the actual exams next year. Also, if one fails in more than than two subjects in the exam, then also, they are obliged to appear for the actual exams next year and not in the compartment exams.

In this board, the promotion of class 12 is if the student gets an aggregate of 33% in both theory and practical subjects and exams on an individual basis.

Advantages

• This education board is easy to find in every area and even if you move abroad.
• The education board has wide recognition overall.
• Acceptance and recognition of its exam results in India and many foreign countries.
• The teaching methods are relevant.
• Relevant and easy-to-understand curriculum.
• It focuses well on science and maths.
• There is a focus on the application part of the STEM subjects.
• Families which move from country to country can give preference to this.

Disadvantages

• In the case of art subjects there are fewer courses for the child to choose from.
• Only a few seats are available in-state colleges as compared to the state boards.
• It is tougher from some boards like the IB board.
• It is also not so lenient in marking as in the Tamil Nadu board.

Indian Certificate of Secondary Education

The ICSE or the Indian Certificate for Secondary Education is the education board in India for years. This education board is a private body that was founded in the mid-nineteenth century. It was determined to set and adapt the University of Cambridge’s examination system to India. There are several examinations conducted by this body. The examinations conducted by this body is as follows-

• ICSE (Indian certificate secondary education) exam for class 10
• ISC (Indian school certificate) exam for class 12
• CVE (Certificate for vocational education) exam for class 12

This education board is one of the practical education boards of India. It aims to impart practical and relevant education to the students. The students in this education board have to give examinations of eight to eleven subjects. Moreover, the level of the education and subject knowledge imparted in this education system is much better and higher than CBSE and alike boards.

The board has a high focus on art as well as literary courses. The in-depth knowledge imparted in art and literary subjects. We can hardly find this in CBSE and alike boards. This education board is widely found in India.

Unlike CBSE and other boards, this education board has an equal focus on art and literature subjects. This education board is extremely beneficial for the initial classes of your kids. The reason is that these education boards help in laying a better foundation in all the subjects taken into account.

Advantages

• There are many options to choose from in art subjects.
• Enhances the in-depth knowledge of various subjects.
• There are various options for children in different domains.
• The syllabus helps students for students who want to study outside the country.
• Lays better foundation among students.
• Provides better base for literature subjects.
• Enhances English language and vocabulary.

Disadvantages

• Moving to another board is difficult once accustomed.
• If teaching techniques are not good, students can suffer.
• Wrong teaching leads to extra tuitions.
• High burden on students.
• Many subjects unlike CBSE.
• Not very easy scoring.
• Less time for extra-curriculum.

Thus, the ICSE board is one of the education boards based on imparting practical education to the students. In this education board, in-depth learning is promoted and imparted. Even in the art and literature subjects, equal amount of weightage and importance is given.

If the methods of teaching are good with well-trained teachers, then the students find it easy to absorb enough amount of relevant content related to the topic or the subject.

There are major comparisons made between ICSE and CBSE boards. You must be thinking about which board ICSE or CBSE is best? The answer to this is none.

Each of these has pros and cons of its own. It is based on the interest of your kids with which board you should go with.

International Baccalaureate

The IB board or the International Baccalaureate. This education board is a non-profit academic corporation. The latter is one of the best education boards in India. This education board ensures great and quality education for the school going students.

Not only the school affiliated with the latter are deemed, prestigious and elite but also pretty costly. The education board has its headquarters in Switzerland. The major programs offered by this education board is as follows-

• The Primary Year KG to Class 5
• The Middle Year Program for Class 6 to Class 10
• The Graduation Program for Class 11 and Class 12

For parents, who want their children to acquire education from foreign universities, this education board can be taken into consideration. Also, for parents of students who travel or plans to travel internationally, this education board can be proved fruitful.

Advantages

• Teacher is to student ratio is good.
• Batch size is small.
• Enough qualitative focus on each student.
• The overall international school atmosphere.
• Changing schools internationally is easy.
• Teaching methods are in a variety.
• Modern learning techniques.
• Imparts quality education.
• Interaction and activity-based learning.

Disadvantages

• The education and expenses are pretty costly.
• Affiliation of this education board with schools present only in metro cities.
• Transition to other education boards is quite difficult.
• Switching to other teaching methods seems to be not easy.

There are one hundred forty-four countries in the world where we find IB boards. Moreover, it is present and affiliated with approximately 3500 schools and educational institutions across the world. Students studying on this board find it easy to apply for further education in foreign universities.

The reason is that they are well-versed with the international system of education and the various techniques. Moreover, they do not have to appear for several additional examinations as the education board is international. Also, this education board has international recognition.

There is more focus on critical skills. This is a uniquely designed curriculum under this education board. It has its focus on arts, vocabulary, and humanities. This education board targets teaching topics and subjects in an interconnected manner. The board has designed its education system in such a way that it focuses on imparting interactive and activity-based education to the students.

The board is beneficial for parents who plan to move through different countries. This board has its international recognition. Thus, several countries have schools affiliated with this education board.

National Institute of Open Schooling

The NIOS board or the National Institute of Open Schooling is one of the major education boards found in India. Also, this education board is said to be one of the student-friendly education Boards in India. This education board is the education board which functions under the Union or Central Government of India.

The education board was laid down by the Ministry of Human Resource Development or MHRD of the Union Government of India(GoI). It was established in 1989. The board was laid down by MHRD with a motive. The motive is to provide education to all segments of society. It aims to increase literacy. Moreover, determined for promoting flexible learning.

The benefit of this is that it allows the child to make decisions about their education and studies. That is, what they want to learn, how they want to learn the same. Moreover, the option is when they want to learn the latter. This education board is a child-centric education board.

This education board works and functions in the interest of the students. It focuses to make education not only flexible but also universal for every student. The education board conducts secondary and post-secondary examinations. The examinations conducted by this education board can be compared with not only CBSE but also CISCE.

This board also can provide college education and courses. That is, after the completion of secondary school. The education board is tending to make one of the largest open school facilities in our country. There are approximately three lakhs fifty thousand students enrolled annually.

This education board is known to hold panel reviews. Moreover, these are held twice per year in March/April and September/October. The pros and cons of the same is as follows-

Advantages

• The education system is flexible, unlike the others.
• It functions in the interest of the students.
• It provides an opportunity for students to study at their own pace.
• Provides a variety of options to the students.
• The system is high learner-friendly.
• Switching old learning techniques to modern methodologies.
• Learning, not confined to the classroom and its teaching.
• Student-focused examinations.

Disadvantages

• Conducts examinations with no strict regulations.
• Reports of various problems with the system of examination.
• Witness of general bias against the students of this board.
• Mostly, we can see the bias in private institutions.
• Improper transfer of modern methods can confuse the students.

Thus, these are the most popular about the Education Boards in India.

Cambridge International Examination

The CIE or the Cambridge International Examinations is one of the major education boards found in India. This education board is responsible for providing the qualifications and taking up examinations that are internationally recognized. We can find this education board in one hundred fifty and more countries across the world.

This education board possesses really helpful and effective methods and teaching techniques for students to learn in an easy and fun manner. The education systems functions to transfer practical knowledge and also encourages innovative learnings at a great level.

The education board not only focuses on bookish knowledge but also allows students to explore and learn much beyond textbooks. The teaching methods and practices are such that education and learning have become much interesting among students.

The education system focuses on practical, innovative, and modern generation learnings with its unique teaching methods and practices.

Advantages

• Encourages learning beyond textbooks.
• Appreciates and encourages innovative learning.
• Uses and practices modern teaching methodologies.
• The curriculum is discrimination and bias-free.
• Learning is interesting and fun for students.
• Learning, not only confined to the classroom.
• Practical learning is the prime focus.
• Uniquely promotes development and growth.
• Appreciates creativity.

Disadvantages

• Switching the education board seems to be difficult.
• The schools affiliated with this education board are pretty expensive.
• Adapting other teaching methods and practices is quite difficult.
• Syllabus is much difficult than CBSE and others.

This education board is the education board which is one of the most preferred in our country. The formation of this education board was in the mid-eighteenth century. The latter is affiliated with approximately ten thousand schools across the globe. That is, in approximately one hundred sixty countries in the world.

Acceptance of the certificates and mark sheets of this education board is by major countries around the world. That is the countries like the USA, UK, Canada, etc. Also, the Gulf and the other European nations. Also, the acceptance of the mark sheets of this education board is by the top universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and the Ivy League.

These benefits are quite helpful for students aspiring to pursue their education from foreign countries.

State Boards

The State Board is one of the major education boards in India. Different states in India have different education boards of their own. These education boards are unique bodies which functions with separate syllabus, ranking and marking schemes.

The main function is to focus on state-level subjects and fields of local interests. The state also conducts it’s own medical and engineering entrance exams. These are for the admission to the local universities which comes under the respective states.

These education boards are also much focused on regional languages. Also, regional heritage plays an important role the in state-board curriculum. There are several state boards which in recent have switched to NCERT textbooks. The reason for this step is for students to prepare and appear for pan-India exams easily.

There are 29 States and 7 Union territories in India. So, there are several state boards in India Itself. Some state boards present in India are as follows-

• UP Board – Board of High School and Intermediate Education Uttar Pradesh
• JKBOSE – Jammu and Kashmir State Board of School Education
• RBSE – Board of Secondary Education Rajasthan
• HPBOSE – Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education
• MPBSE – Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education
• CGBSE – Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education
• PSEB – Punjab School Education Board
• BSEH – Haryana Board of School Education (HBSE)
• BSEB – Bihar School Examination Board
• GSEB – Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board
• MSBSHSE – Maharashtra State Board Of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education
• BIEAP – Andhra Pradesh Board of Intermediate Education
• BSEAP – Andhra Pradesh Board of Secondary Education
• WBBSE – West Bengal Board of Secondary Education
• WBCHSE – West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education

The curriculum finalized by the state board is not only followed in government schools but also private schools. Every state board has its unique curriculum and entrance exams.

Advantages

• Curriculum is extremely relevant.
• Cost-effective. The minimum cost of education.
• There is more focus on regional languages.
• There is more focus on regional heritage.
• Strong curriculum.

Disadvantages

• Outdated teaching methodologies.
• The teachers involved in state boards lack quality.
• Teacher is to student ratio is not good.
• Children unable to learn and grow properly.
• Large crowd with few teachers in such a school.

Secondary School Certificate

The SSC or the Secondary School Certificate is one of the major education boards in India. It is basically Matriculation examination. Moreover, it is mainly a public examination. Countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh conduct this examination in their respective institutions.

The examination is an examination featuring completion of secondary education. Moreover, class 10 students can sit for the examination. It is equivalent to the initial two years of the high school in the United States of America. The students who have completed at least ten years of education are the only ones eligible to write the education.

The states in India from which the students are eligible to write the examination is as follows-

• Maharashtra,
• Madhya Pradesh,
• Gujarat,
• Andhra Pradesh and
• Goa

The SSC or the Senior Secondary Certificate is for the 9th and 10th. The 11th and 12th come under HSC. That is Higher Secondary Certificate. It is equivalent to the final two years in the United States of America.

Thus, these are the most popular about the Education Boards in India.

International General Certificate of Secondary Education

The IGCSE or the International General Certificate of Secondary Education is one of the major education boards in India. The education system has an exclusively designed curriculum. That is, for students who aspire to pursue the syllabus that has international recognition.

This education board is the education board that the students who do not reside in Britain prefer. Moreover, those who do not reside and aspire to pursue formal education through the English qualification system.

This education board encourages and appreciates collaborative learning. This kind of learning not only reduces the pressure and stress of cut-throat competition but also helps students to learn and grow together. The system promotes overall growth.

Advantages

• Worldwide recognition of this board.
• Students who want to pursue education from foreign universities, will be beneficial.
• Encourages and appreciates collaborative learning.
• Reduction in cut-throat competition.
• Reduces stress and pressure.
• Promotes students to learn and grow together.
• It is a standardized curriculum.
• One of the most wanted syllabus.

Disadvantages

• Pattern of examination is lengthy and rigorous.
• Curriculum difficult for students to manage.
• Difficult to score good and high.
• Switching to another board may be difficult.
• One who stays for studies in India may find it difficult in college admissions.

Which education board is best?

The various education board discussed above are the major education boards that are present in India. We have made various comparisons of different education boards. Now, it is absolutely clear that no education is best or worst. Every education board discussed above has its pros and cons.

Parents and students are overloaded with pressure and stress to choose the right school and education. As parents, we tend to provide our kids with the best school and the best education. And for this we go through a lot of research, calculations, decisions and investment.

All the above-mentioned steps are extremely important. But what is more important is that education should not become a burden on our kids. Learning should combine with joy and fun. This is the most important aspect of learning and education.

All the schools put pressure on the studies of the children. Whether more or less. As a parent, it is your sole responsibility to make the environment of home fun for learning. We should compare learning on an individual basis. We should not compare it with others.

How to choose?

Every kid is different and has unique capabilities and abilities. The methods or fields that prove to be good for one child may not be beneficial for the other. Every child needs to find out what interests them and what is fun for them.

When learning is fun then it reduces pressure and stress among students. This is the only way to achieve real success, happiness, and the peace that the world is running for. So, to choose which education board is better for our children we must analyze the pros and cons of each board.

Moreover, we must analyze our needs and requirements. Every child and parent has theirs owns certain directions, paths, and fields to follow. Also, the conditions and situations of everyone’s lives are different. Nothing is best and nothing is bad.

We just need to choose what seems good for us and put in our best effort. Now, after the entire facts and figures, hope the decision must be easy to take.

We have discussed various pros and cons of most of the major education board in our country. It is based on your needs and requirements that which education board we should choose.

Hope you have got a clear idea of which board should you choose.

Frequently Asked Question-

Which education board is the best education board for your child?

The various education board discussed above are the major education boards that are present in India. We have made various comparisons of different education boards. Now, it is absolutely clear that no education is best or worst. Every education board discussed above has its pros and cons.

Moreover, we must analyze our needs and requirements. Every child and parent has theirs owns certain directions, paths, and fields to follow. Also, the conditions and situations of everyone’s lives are different. Nothing is best and nothing is bad.

We just need to choose what seems good for us and put in our best effort. Now, after the entire facts and figures, hope the decision must be easy to take.

How many education boards are there in India?

We all know India is a vast country that is home to various education boards. There are several education boards present in our country. ICSE, CBSE, NIOS, CIE, IB Board, SSC, IGCSE, various State boards are some of the major education boards that we can see in our country.

Which is the best education board in India?

Experts do not consider any education board the best education board in India. But they do accept that CBSE or the Central Board of Secondary education is the most common education board in our country. The latter covers the maximum number of schools in India and few abroad.

What is state board education in India?

India is a vast country with 29 states and 7 union territories. It is extremely rich in diversity and regional heritage and culture. So, every state in India has its education board with a unique curriculum. These is called State boards. They are both government-run and private-funded.

Which board is best ICSE or CBSE?

There is no such thing as to CBSE is best or the ICSE. Both have their benefits and shortcomings. But the fact is CBSE is preferred much in comparison to the ICSE board. The reason being is that it is affiliated with the maximum number of schools in our country and also few abroad. Thus, switching schools become easy and hassle-free.

Which board is easy ICSE or CBSE?

We all know that experts consider CBSE much easier than the ICSE board. We can find ICSE tougher than the CBSE in many different aspects. Be it the curriculum or the conduction of examinations. The curriculum of ICSE demands in-depth studies even in art subjects unlike CBSE, which makes it tougher for the students.

Why is ICSE so tough?

The curriculum of ICSE majorly demand for the application of concepts. Moreover, it focusses on practical learning and understanding.

We can find ICSE tougher than the CBSE in many different aspects. Be it the curriculum or the conduction of examinations. The curriculum of ICSE demands in-depth studies even in art subjects unlike CBSE, which makes it tougher for the students.

What are the disadvantages of CBSE?

• Moving to another board is difficult once accustomed.
• If teaching techniques are not good, students can suffer.
• Wrong teaching leads to extra tuitions.
• High burden on students.
• Many subjects, unlike CBSE.
• Not very easy scoring.
• Less time for extra-curriculum.

Which education board is tougher-CBSE board or State board?

When we tend to compare the CBSE board and State board, we can find that the CBSE board is tougher than the other one. But the fact that the CBSE board is more student-friendly makes it a much better option.

For students who want to pursue their higher education, not from the State institutions but any of the national institutions, CBSE will prove to be beneficial.

We have discussed various pros and cons of most of the major education board in our country. It is based on your needs and requirements that which education board we should choose.

Hope you have got a clear idea of which board should you choose. For more articles, visit Podium School..

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