All schools operate under a board of education. Their goal is to be able to supervise public and private schools and make sure that each are providing students with the best education possible. Not to mention, since secondary schools are basically a training ground for university life, the board of education promotes an education system that will help the students prepare for entry into any of the university they like.
There is also a governing body for international schools, most especially in Asia where they are more prolific. Their strict education system is what makes their programmes more competitive. And one of the leading boards of education in Asia is the CBSE.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), under the Union Government of India, is a committee for public and private schools. They are an education system that prepares and conducts examinations for students until Class 12. Their aim is to ensure that schools are providing child-centered and holistic education programs that will help students get into leading universities around the world. The great thing about the CBSE education system is it does not just focus on the cerebral programs of the school but also encourages students to pursue their interests in sports, arts, and extracurricular activities.
The Central Board of Secondary Education system in practice
Let us take the CBSE schools in Singapore as an example, particularly, the Global Indian International School. They are known for their ‘Nine Gems’ educational framework that focuses on developing the student’s skills in the following:
- Academic Excellence
- Sports Excellence
- Arts
- Personality Development
- Creativity and Innovation
- Entrepreneurship & Leadership
- Universal Values and Ethics
- Community and Care
- Skills development
Each of these ‘gems’ coincides with the CBSE’s recommended curriculum that focuses on 5 learning areas:
- Languages – to develop reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills
- Mathematics and technology – to improve logical and analytical thinking
- Social science – to improve worldviews which includes the political, environmental, economic, and social
- Science – to encourage inquisitiveness especially in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology
- Physical education – to offer opportunities to pursue interests other than the academics like performance and visual arts, sports, and other activities that encourage creativity and imagination
The advantages of this transdisciplinary framework
From the term “holistic”, the education framework being promoted by the CBSE ensures that the students who will transition from the international school to any university of their choosing are more than prepared to take on responsibilities that will challenge them. They will develop leadership and communication skills, confidence and emotional maturity, and an appreciation for different cultures — a mastery of which will mean that your child is can collaborate with people from a diverse background, actively listen to them, and form conclusions that are logically sound.