Everything You Need to Know About The Indian Curriculum

What is the Indian Curriculum?

There are many schools that offer the Indian Curriculum around the region, as well as globally. The two key versions of the Indian Curriculum are the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) which are offered in many international schools. The CBSE is a Board of Education for the public and private schools, under the Government of India. It is designed and developed by the National Council of Educational Research and training in New Delhi. This curriculum helps students to prepare for the All India CBSE Secondary Schools Examination at the age of 16 (end of grade 10) and the All India Senior School Certificate Examination at the age of 18 (end of grade 12). As for the CISCE, it is a private, non-governmental board of education in India for grade 10. This curriculum helps students to prepare for the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) examination in the secondary school and the Indian School Certificate (ISC) examination in the final year of secondary school. Moreover, it is also designed to provide an examination in a course of general education, in English, in accordance with the recommendations of the New Education Policy 1986 in India.

For the primary school curriculum, it emphasises general education and covers the basic subjects such as writing and arithmetic, geography, reading, supplemented by history, general science and civics. As for the secondary school curriculum, it is more specific and specialised as it approaches all core subjects which allow opportunities to try a board range of subjects like Business Studies, Language, IT, and The Arts.

What is The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)?

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is a national level board of education in India for the public and private schools that are controlled and managed by the Union Government India. It is one of the most preferred boards in the country as it maintains uniformity among all the students across India. Moreover, its effectiveness is also reflected in the number of schools associated with the CBSE every year. It covers the basic and general knowledge that requires a student to move forward in terms of their education.

The CBSE was designed to achieve certain interlinked objectives. It aims to prescribe conditions of examinations and conduct public examinations at the end of Class 10 and Class 12 while granting qualifying certificates to successful candidates of the affiliated schools. It also aims to fulfil the educational requirements of students whose parents were employed in transferable jobs. Moreover, the CBSE prescribes and updates the course of instructions of the examinations as well as affiliate institutions for the purpose of examination and uplifting of the academic standards of the country. 

What is The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE)?

The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) is popularly known as an examination conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) which is a private board of school education in India for Class 10. The CISCE is considered as one of the most popular boards of education in India that conducts the ICSE of Class 10 and ISC of Class 12 board examinations every year. The ICSE is designed to provide an examination in a course of general education in the English language. Moreover, the ICSE Board also focuses on students’ overall progress and growth as it aims to provide a balanced curriculum to all its students. 

What is the difference between CBSE and ICSE?

In the education system, there are three levels; Primary Level, Secondary Level and Senior Secondary Levels. Each of these levels play a crucial role in building and developing a student’s objectives, achievements and career goals which both the CBSE and the ICSE cater to. Both CBSE and ICSE are well known for its self financing school education in India with a differentiated syllabus, examination patterns and education. They both emphasise the analytical thinking and problem-solving skills that will essentially prepare students for their education in universities and employment in the future. For the CBSE Curriculum, it is known to be slightly easier in comparison with the ICSE as it has more of a structured and scientific approach when it comes to coursework that regularly upgrades in line with the changing demands. On the other hand, the ICSE syllabus is more comprehensive and detailed compared to the CBSE as its syllabus are diverse subject combinations which match the international standards. 

Why choose the Indian Curriculum?

Students benefit from a highly supportive system which encourages them to strive to achieve their full potential individually. Both CBSE and ICSE offers students of all abilities and aptitudes to have the chance to achieve their utmost best in a broad range of subjects which are inclusive of Business Studies, The Arts, Indian Languages, Mathematics, English, the Sciences, and IT. The Indian Curriculum opens exciting opportunities for all students as it is closely interlinked with secondary school systems by Indian universities. In other words, high achieving students have the opportunity and the golden ticket to enrol in India's best higher education establishments. Moreover, the Indian Curriculum is also rapidly expanding its reputation and respect as it is now widely recognised worldwide.