The International Baccalaureate (IB), a global educational foundation headquartered in Switzerland, asserts to have witnessed significant growth in the last five years in India. It aims to furnish Indian students with a comprehensive education, a worldwide outlook and a skill set which is highly esteemed by international universities. The IB board claims to provide four programmes catering to students aged 3-19 years, namely the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-Related Programme (CP), Haif Bannayan, global director, business development, IB, told FE Education. “Between 2019-2023, the count of authorised IB World Schools in India has surged by 31%. Presently, there are 226 IB World Schools dispersed throughout the country, delivering a combined total of 378 authorised IB programmes. This includes 138 schools providing PYP, 59 schools offering MYP, 155 schools delivering DP and 26 schools providing CP,” he said.
However, the availability of IB World Schools remains confined to metropolitan areas in India, including New Delhi, Gurugram, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Chennai. To improve the accessibility and affordability of IB Education nationwide, the Delhi Board of Secondary Education (DBSE), as part of Arvind Kejriwal’s educational reforms in Delhi, had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the IB to introduce such programmes in 30 government schools in Delhi in August 2021. It is anticipated that more schools will adopt this curriculum in the future.
As the educational landscape in India undergoes constant transformation, experts believe that schools across the country are increasingly embracing one or more IB programmes for their students. IB asserts collaboration with Indian institutions and educational authorities to extend its framework to students from diverse backgrounds and regions. “Recognising the significance of adjusting to the changing educational environment in India, we eagerly anticipate ongoing dialogues with leaders to facilitate the delivery of a high-quality, globally-oriented education to an even greater number of students,” Bannayan said.
The DP offered by IB provides top-notch courses globally, demonstrating alignment with or surpassing international standards, according to the DP country alignment study 2023. The study highlights that DP courses are adaptable to diverse national contexts, showcasing their ability to be seamlessly integrated. Moreover, the findings underscore that DP curricula are meticulously crafted to facilitate substantial depth and breadth of learning, exemplifying their rigour and comprehensive educational value. “The IB is widely acclaimed for its emphasis on languages and global principles. This, in conjunction with students’ cultural backgrounds, fosters a profound comprehension of the world. Graduates of the programmes develop into multilingual thinkers and make a positive impact on a global scale,” he explained.