Why families in India are choosing private schools
As the education system in India grows rapidly to accommodate the burgeoning population, research has shown that increasing numbers of families are deserting the state sector in favour of private sector education.
Demand for international schools increases
The growth of English-medium international schools in India is a part of this trend. According to the International School Consultancy (ISC), there are currently 523 English-medium international schools in India, 30 per cent of them situated in Mumbai and Bangalore.This number is steadily increasing as the demand is led by a new generation of aspirational, relatively affluent local families. These parents are demanding increasingly high quality, international education and, by 2020 India's private education market is predicted to have doubled in value within the space of just four years.30 per cent of Indian students attend private schools
The migration of students from state to private education has rendered a high proportion of state schools economically unviable to the extent that 24,000 government schools recently closed down. The research showed that almost 30 per cent of students in India are attending private, government unaided schools.The Relocate Guide to International Education & Schools is packed with 268 pages of expert advice on international education. Access your FREE digital copy here.
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One of the main reasons for this is that government teacher salaries in India are high, not only in relation to private schools but also compared to those in other countries (Indian teachers’ wages are four times those of teachers in China, for example).
Increasing focus on teaching quality
Unfortunately, this high salary does not always translate into high quality teaching; in the 2009 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) survey – which tests the skills and knowledge of 15-year-olds with the aim of evaluating education systems – India ranked near the bottom and has since boycotted the three-yearly survey. This is set to change, however as the Indian government has announced plans to participate in the 2021 test.Relocating families should be aware that not all private schools are created equal. There has been concern among established international schools that institutions are being set up with the ‘International’ label which have no accreditation.Families should always look for a recognised school accreditation such as the Council of International Schools (COIS), The International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) and the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) if they are to ensure that their children receive the best quality education whilst living in India.Relocate Global's Guide to International Education & Schools 2017 is packed with information on education around the world with expert tips for those relocating and the professionals supporting them. Access your digital copy here.
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