Parents pick central boards over SSC for their kids

Following the increase in demand, government has sanctioned 32 new schools in Mumbai and Thane that will follow CBSE, ICSE and IGCSE curriculum

Parents expecting quality education for their kids seem to prefer enrolling them in schools following central board curriculum instead of SSC. The Maharashtra government has recently sanctioned 1,804 new schools, of which 85 will be in Mumbai and Thane district. About 40 per cent of these schools will follow ICSE, CBSE and IGCSE curriculum.

With the lack of quality control in SSC boards, an increasing number of parents are enrolling their kids in schools which follow CBSE and ICSE curriculum

N B Chavan, deputy director of school education, said, “The trend of schools following central board curriculum is rising in the city. Parents nowadays look for quality education for their kids.” Echoing similar sentiments is Arundhati Chavan, the president of Parents Teachers Association United Forum.

“The dilution of SSC curriculum, frequent changes in policies and lack of quality control makes parents prefer central boards. They believe that the curriculum design of these boards helps develop the competency of students, and will help them while competing in entrance exams.”

Rohan Bhatt, principal of Children’s Academy in Malad, said, “It has become economically unviable to run a state board school. The regulations constantly change in terms of land requirements and infrastructure. With the amount of money that parents have to shell out, they expect the best for their children. Besides, most of them have lost faith in the curriculum and system of state boards.”

In August 2013, the state government had invited city-based organisations to start unaided schools for the 2014-15 academic year. Out of the 3,129 proposals received, 1,804 were approved by the state last week. The sanctioned schools have to begin classes from the coming academic year, implementing the Right to Education Act 2009.

They have been instructed to approach district education officers a month after starting the school in order to receive recognition. Out of the 85 schools in Mumbai and Thane that have received the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the government, 32 schools will follow the ICSE, CBSE or IGCSE boards.

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