There are two very
different boards of education catering to the academic sector in India, and
these are CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) and ICSE (Indian
Certificate of Secondary Education).
Although the subjects taught in both
boards are the same, choosing the right board is essential because this
can play a significant role in the student’s future. Indians lay a lot of
importance on education and knowledge, and the age old debate on choosing the
right board ofeducation is bound to crop up in every household sooner or later.
Each board of education has its own set of
pros and cons, and parents will have to make a calculated move taking their
children’s strengths into consideration, as their future can be shaped only
based on their interests.
Central
Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
The Central Board of Secondary Education in
India is the main board of education in India for school level education. This
board of education conducts the All India Senior School Certificate Examination
every year for students who complete their twelfth grade, and this examination
serves as the basis for them to pursue their higher education, once out of
school.
school.
The Central Board of Secondary Education is
also responsible for conducting the AIEEE examination, which serves as an
entrance exam for admission to the various undergraduate engineering courses.
Pros:
·
Opting for a CBSE
school has its own share of pros, and the biggest advantage is that all major
competitive examinations in India are based on the CBSE syllabus. These
examinations include the Joint Entrance Examination (IIT-JEE), the All India
Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) and the All India Pre Medical Test
(AIPMT).
·
The CBSE syllabus is
easier when compared to that of other boards, mainly due to fewer subjects and
a more compact structure. Secondary subjects like Environmental Education are
not compulsory under the CBSE syllabus. The subjects of Physics, Chemistry and
Biology fall under the general umbrella of Science, and History, Geography and
Civics fall under the spectrum of Social Sciences.
·
A certificate from the
Central Board of Education is recognized throughout the country, in all
colleges and academic centres. The syllabus is more application based under
CBSE, as the board follows a concentric curriculum.
Cons:
·
Not much focus is laid
on inculcating practical knowledge in students. The CBSE syllabus also does not
lay as much emphasis on core English knowledge as its counterpart does,
choosing to lay more importance on the disciplines of mathematics and science.
·
The subjects in a CBSE
syllabus are approached in a theoretical manner, and true emphasis is not laid
on real-life concepts behind the science. Although the syllabus is application
oriented, it does not provide room for effective understanding.
Indian
Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE)
The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education
was first established by the Local Examinations Syndicate of the University of
Cambridge. The syllabus followed by ICSE schools differs vastly from that
followed in CBSE schools mainly in terms of content and volume. The board
conducts an ICSE examination towards the end of tenth grade and an Indian
School Certificate (ISC) examination towards the end of twelfth grade.
Pros:
·
The syllabus followed
by the ICSE board is more comprehensive and complete, encompassing all fields
with equal importance.
·
Students who are
interested in careers in the lines of management and humanities will find
the curriculum followed under ICSE to be more interesting and challenging,
not to mention fruitful.
·
Certification under
the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education board will be recognized around
the world, particularly by foreign schools and universities when compared to
the central board’s local margin.
·
Due to the emphasis
laid on English in ICSE, students from this board may hold a slight edge over
other students in exams like TOEFL.
Cons:
·
Students may find the
syllabus to be too extensive for their liking, as an average student practising
under an ICSE board will face thirteen subjects/examinations during the sixth
grade, when compared to the six subjects faced by the student’s counterpart in
a CBSE affiliated school.
·
Although an ICSE
syllabus can facilitate deeper understanding and better life skills and
analytical skills, pursuing further education may prove to be a problem due to
a lack of leniency in evaluating papers after an ISC examination.
Both these boards share an equal amount of
pros and cons, and choosing the right board will entirely depend on the kind of
future you envision for your children. The quality of education provided under
both boards is excellent, so all you’ll need to do is assess your children’s
strengths and gauge the right board for them.
However, you’ll need
to keep in mind that more than the board of education involved; the quality of
education that your children are receiving should be your primary concern. This
is why it is more important to choose a very good school, regardless of the
board of education it falls under.
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