Last month (July), the number of Indian schools affiliated with the UK-based Cambridge International Examinations (CIE, estb.1858) board, which offers IGCSE (class X) and ‘A’ level (class XII) certification to secondary school students, crossed the 250 mark. This is quite a leap from a decade ago when the number of Indian schools affiliated with CIE, which bills itself as the world’s largest provider of international qualifications for 14-19-year-olds with 9,000 affiliated schools in 160 countries worldwide, was a mere 30. Today, this number has multiplied to 250 with the country’s top rated secondaries clamouring for affiliation with this highly-respected international examinations board.

“It’s very encouraging that the best schools in India are becoming aware of the importance of offering their students CIE’s internationally benchmarked primary and secondary school curriculums and certification. CIE curriculums have been rigorously designed to develop global citizens with strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and to prepare students for entry into the best universities in India and abroad. The Association of Indian Universities recognises Camb-ridge IGCSE and A Levels as equivalent to class X and class XII respectively for admission into Indian colleges and universities. Universities around the world place an especially high premium on CIE certification,” says Ian Chambers, the Delhi-based regional manager (South Asia) of CIE.

An alumnus of Reading University, UK with postgrad qualifications in secondary education from University College, Worcester (UK), Chambers began his academic career as a business and economics teacher at Chosen Hill School, Gloucestershire (2002-04), followed by teaching assignments in St. Andrews International School, Bangkok (2004-06) and Nunnery Wood High School, Worcester (2007). In early 2008 Chambers signed up with CIE as regional manager, South Asia (India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka).

Since then Chambers has affiliated around 90 Indian schools with CIE. “If we entertained all requests, we could have signed up several thousand schools. But all schools which apply for affiliation have to satisfy stringent eligibility norms on several parameters including infrastructure provision, ITES facilities, curriculum and pedagogy innovation and quality of teachers. The entire affiliation selection process takes about four months,” says Chambers.  Nor does CIE affiliation come cheap. All affiliated schools are obliged to pay a registration fee of £2,000 (Rs.1.4 lakh) which needs to be renewed annually.

In consideration thereof, CIE conducts high quality curriculum-mapped teacher training programmes for affiliated schools. These progra-mmes are conducted by CIE examiners and members of the faculty of education, University of Cambridge.

Given the rising profile and presence of CIE in the subcontinent, Chambers is confident that it will have a positive impact on school education. “We are well aware that India’s challenges in education are huge. Therefore CIE intends to play an active role in helping India attain its goal of quality education for all,” says Chambers.

Summiya Yasmeen (Bangalore)