International Schools- how are they different from ordinary schools

Rote learning and teacher centric schools are now a thing of the past. The arrival international schools is fast changing the preferences of the Indian parent. Parents are choosing an education which allows their young learners to thrive as easily anywhere else in the fast shrinking world of today, as they would on home grounds. They are choosing quality education that goes beyond curriculum and qualification. They are choosing experiential learning over simply intellectualization of concepts. They are choosing educational guarantee from educators over the resignation of the traditional educators .These are the things that an international school is expected to deliver.

Preparing children to meet the demands of the real world that we are all a part of, requires dynamic schooling. The monotonous syllabus and teaching aids used in traditional schools, are being replaced with state-of-the-art facilities and cutting edge resources. An extensive list of co-curriculars, meals, assessments, homework, PTA, international trips, and an integrated module facilitated by use of latest technology, all these are tailor made and put in place by the modern international school that intends to help students move towards a holistic development. Thus a student is encouraged to explore his/her full potential across different dimensions, academically, physically, spiritually and socially.

As an internationally relevant curriculum obviously attracts expat students and teachers, such schools offer diversity in the cultural backgrounds, developing cross-cultural understanding, an international outlook and an awareness for the need to build quality relationships with communities of varied creeds. Ordinary everyday challenges become opportunities where students go beyond their own cultural mind set. This kind of set up hopes to weave tolerance for the opinion of others in the very fabric of the student’s social behavior. Such a foundation and widening of horizons leads the enthusiastic learners to effectively imbibe the lesson of humanity.

To help their students learn through example, International schools employ enthusiastic, highly motivated and more importantly, highly competent faculty often by spending money in attending international recruitment fairs across the world. Teachers are also encouraged to follow ongoing upgradation workshops to keep abreast with best teaching practices.

Academic rigor is crucial as academic qualifications are still the gateway to obtaining admission at reputed university and professional career. International qualifications are increasingly preferred today as they help to promote a global perspective. Most international schools follow the International Baccalaureate which is accepted as an entrance for universities across the world. Universities are often impressed to see that a student has benefited from the unique challenges of an international education and even offer scholarships. But simply offering the curriculum by the school is not enough; accreditation needs to be in place too.

The accreditation process usually centers around a set of standards that provide descriptors and indicators of quality for every aspect of a school, from mission, through quality of learning and teaching, to the more 'operational' areas such as finance and facilities. International schools, through membership organizations like CIS (Council of International Schools), pool expertise and resources to provide services that would normally be provided by national systems. By combining self and peer evaluation with clear standards and effective training for visiting teams, accreditation combines quality assurance with strategic improvement. Azim Premji Foundation’s concept of ‘Learning Guarantee’ fittingly makes accountable every key stakeholder that can influence learning and education. All in all, accreditation is a system that serves international schools well.

Thus international schools attempt to synthesize the very best of an international education going far beyond the confines of the classroom and acknowledging the learning process as the chance for a remarkable and well-rounded education.

For more information on International Schools visit: http://www.oberoi-is.org