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For those who want to do something different
from the usual HSC, CBSE and ISC courses after standard 10th, the
International Baccalaureate or IB is an interesting option. The IB
Diploma Programme is a 2 year international educational programme
for students in the age group of 16 to 19 years. It's an
application and project based programme unlike the HSC programme
and it also provides a global perspective. Not many students know
about this, so here is some basic information about the programme. There are 6 subject groups from which the
student is expected to choose subjects. Different schools have
different options for their students.
The 6 subject
groups are
1. Language 1 which is any language that the student is most familiar
with. There are 80 languages to choose from.
2. Second language
3. Individuals and societies- this group includes social sciences
like psychology, sociology, economics, philosophy, business,
history, geography, Information Technology in a global society,
etc.
4. Experimental sciences- this group includes physics, chemistry,
biology, environmental systems, etc.
5. Mathematics and Computer Science
6. Arts and electives such as visual arts, film, music, dance,
theatre arts, etc. |
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There are 3 main areas in which the student is expected to work.
One is the Extended Essay. A student can choose a topic and do
research on the topic with the help of a guide and then present a
written thesis ranging from 4000 to 4200 words. The Theory of
Knowledge or TOK section is a 100 hours course which encourages
critical thinking about the key subjects. An essay and a
presentation are to be submitted. The CAS or Creativity, Action
and Service is the third component. A student is expected to put
in 150 hours of work spread out over the 2 years in creative
activity and the arts, sports and community service. Besides the
points obtained in these core components, there is a final exam as
well as internal assessment for oral presentations, practical
work, projects etc. Thus there is a great emphasis on projects and
research work and on all round development and development of
analytical skills which can be said to be lacking in the HSC
pattern. If the student does not want to do the entire diploma
programme, he or she can obtain Certificates of Merit in
individual subjects. |
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The IB programme provides easier access to top foreign
universities, some of which do not recognize our HSC programme.
But it is not just meant for students who wish to go abroad. This
system of education has several benefits in terms of knowledge and
skills acquired. It's definitely a more challenging and liberating
experience. All universities in India accept the IB grades for
entry into degree courses. As of now, 37 schools in India offer
this diploma. The problem however is that it is quite expensive.
However if you are willing to invest some extra money into
securing a different educational experience, then IB is something
that you can think about. The basic message is that if you want
world class education you don’t need to go abroad- you can enjoy
it here in India. |
