Summary
Board group managing director in city to visit schools
An increasing number of schools in Kolkata are expressing interest in the Cambridge curriculum because it promises an easier transition to universities abroad, said the group managing director of international education at Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
“There are around 20 schools (offering Cambridge International Education) in Kolkata. We see an increasing number of schools expressing interest. We can see 50 schools in Kolkata by the end of 2027,” Rod Smith told The Telegraph during a chat.
“We know a good number of students travel internationally for education... the promise of international education has always been easier access to the US, UK, Australia, Canadian universities and there is no doubt that Cambridge qualifications are massive strengths,” he said.
Smith was in Kolkata last Friday.
He is visiting existing and prospective Cambridge schools across the country.
Several schools in the city have either started offering the Cambridge curriculum or extended it to more levels in the past few years.
The latest additions to the list are The Heritage School, Lakshmipat Singhania Academy, Modern High School for Girls and South City International School.
The Heritage School extended the curriculum to Classes VI, VII and VIII in 2021.
Lakshmipat Singhania Academy started the curriculum in Classes VI to VII in 2023.
South City International School is to start the Cambridge curriculum across all classes in April 2024.
“We have seen a demand among parents for an international curriculum,” said Satabdi Bhattacharjee, principal of South City International School.
Most schools that offer an international curriculum provide both the Cambridge International Education and the International Baccalaureate. Some of them offer CBSE or ICSE along with it.
Smith said it gives students and parents a choice.
As of 2023, Cambridge International Education was being offered in 10,000 schools in 160 countries.
Smith said Cambridge does not want to be an organisation that is working with schools only when students are doing exams.
“We want to be with them (students) through the whole journey from three to 19 years. Over that period, develop not just exam-readiness but the right approach to learning. Prepare them for exams, prepare for life generally and build resilience,” he said.
Smith spent a morning at Calcutta International School. The school has been offering the Cambridge curriculum for 20-odd years.
“The Cambridge curriculum makes children independent of the sources of knowledge — teachers and textbooks. It makes them gather knowledge, research, analyse and apply it in real life,” said Tina Servaia, principal, senior school, Calcutta International School.
Servaia said the objective was to train students to learn to verify sources and collate information from various sources.
After the pandemic, the board has launched a well-being check for students. “Post-pandemic, there is an explosion in mental health issues in young people around the world,” Smith said.
Last updated on 19 Feb 2024
