Introduction of Schools:
Introduction of School Education is responsible for the management of public schools in the state. As of Oct 2021, the state had over 37211 government schools and 8403 Government-aided schools which educate 54.71 lakh and 28.44 lakh students respectively.
Public schools are affiliated with the Tamil Nadu State Board, and the curriculum for these schools is framed by the school education department. The Directorate is also responsible for financial assistance and distribution of welfare schemes for school students.
Private schools: The establishment of the Directorate of Private Schools in January 2023 marked a pivotal moment, as it oversees the registration of private schools affiliated with various educational boards, including the Tamil Nadu Board of Secondary Education, CBSE, ICSE, and NIOS, which collectively cater to over 56.9 lakh students across 12,631 schools as of the same year.
State Boards:
State Boards across India have unique educational strategies, emphasizing regional subjects and heritage, with some recently mandating the use of NCERT books for broader exam preparation.
Features of State Boards in India:
- Tend to approach a regional-based program and syllabus.
- Typically, they teach or use state language as a component and a medium of instruction.
- State Boards conduct primary and mid-level examinations. Many board exams generally keep only secondary examinations, i.e. 10th and 12th grades/standards.
Preferred By:
- Civil Service Examination candidates prefer this Education Board in India.
- Students who are interested in athletics or related extracurricular activities are attracted to this Education Board because of its relatively lighter workload.
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- To Parents who wish for their child to attend a university near their residence.
- Parents who desire their children to immerse themselves in the local culture and traditions.
- Parents who want to pay reasonably affordable fees
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE):
CBSE is widely recognized as one of India’s leading education boards, known for its traditional teaching methods and nationwide presence, catering to both private and public schools and offering a diverse range of subjects for students up to grade 12, facilitating their transition to various universities.
Features of the CBSE Board:
- CBSE Board is perceived as more challenging due to its grading system compared to State Boards and other Education Boards in India.
- Primary students in CBSE schools focus on vocabulary and social development.
- High school students (grades 6 to 10) in the CBSE curriculum study subjects such as science, mathematics, English, and additional languages.
- CBSE curriculum emphasizes participation in artistic and extracurricular activities alongside academics.
- CBSE conducts two major exams: The Grade 10 All India Secondary School Examination and the Grade 12 All India Senior School Certificate Examination.
- Continuous Comprehensive Assessment (CCE) is implemented from grades 6 to 10 in CBSE schools, evaluating students throughout the year rather than solely relying on end-of-year examinations.
Preferred By:
- Applicants preparing for medical or engineering examinations, such as the JEE.
- Parents of students whose professions require frequent relocation across India, leading to changes in schools.
- Students aspiring to study abroad in CBSE schools recognize the potential variations in teaching methods between countries.
- Parents seeking a common financial footing between state boards and IB/ICSE for their children’s education.
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Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE):
CISCE, a prominent national Education Board in India, oversees ICSE and ISC examinations for classes 10 and 12 respectively, aiming to provide quality education through a balanced curriculum that emphasizes science, humanities, and language courses, particularly English, across over 2,100 affiliated schools worldwide.
Features of CISCE:
- CISCE places a huge emphasis on tasks instead of on text learning which is more practical and application-based than CBSE.
- It relies more on language and the arts
- The CISCE Board offers a wider range and a greater selection of subjects than CBSE.
Preferred By
- Students who thrive in a practical approach and have a passion for humanities and languages.
- To Parents with professions involving frequent travel, enable their children to adapt to various school environments.
- Parents aspiring for their children to pursue overseas education accredited by Cambridge International Exams (CIE).
- Parents seeking a more cost-effective and international alternative to CIE certification.
National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS):
The National Open Schooling Institute (NIOS) aims to provide a flexible and inclusive education system, empowering students to make choices about their learning journey, offering secondary and post-secondary examinations similar to CBSE and CISCE, and serving nearly 350,000 students annually, making it one of India’s largest open school platforms.
Features of NIOS:
- Open Basic Education (OBE) encompasses primary education spanning classes 3 to 8, covering fundamental subjects like mathematics, earth sciences, and computer knowledge. As students progress to Grade 10, they choose subjects from at least five basic classes and one language. Grade 12 offers expanded opportunities in trade, science, and humanities, with students selecting one or two subjects from each of the five classes available.
- The NOIS Board also conducts vocational (commerce) training.
- The Board always conducts the OBE exams and also the two primary exams for the Secondary and Upper Secondary curriculum.
- Students may take up to five years to finish their exams.
Preferred By:
- Candidates in remote and rural areas
- Students who intend to finish their studies later on in life
- Students who want to study in a self-improved atmosphere