When we think about opening our own school, it is already a very big question for us. There are so many options available in present times, after all, and as many as there are options, there is as much confusion. Whether to start our own school brand or whether to take a primary school franchise, K-12 school franchise, or simply a top school franchise, such questions seem to be endless. An important question that is also there to consider is whether to seek the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) affiliation for our school/school franchise.
Getting a school franchise
It is relatively easier to base our success on an already established brand rather than on building a brand from scratch. Hence, getting a school franchise is quite lucrative because we need not do any research on curriculum, infrastructure, school operations, etc. The franchisor provides us with a set of guidelines and assistance in setting up our school. What we need to do, however, is to find a franchisor whose goals align with ours and whose guidelines meet our expectations.
Becoming the franchise owner of a school brand may not leave you with much choice as to which affiliation you want to seek for your specific school. It is therefore of key importance that before you franchise with a brand, you are aware of your aspirations and expectations and whether the brand can deliver them.
CBSE or ICSE or any other board
So, considering that you have found a top school franchise in your sphere of expectations, what expectation did you really set when it came to the question of affiliation?
Let’s delve into some important points that you should have examined while making this decision:
● CBSE is not only concerned with making students achieve academic heights. It equally focuses on the holistic growth of students and prioritizes extra-curricular activities in education. ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education), too, focuses on the holistic growth of students. However, the CBSE curriculum is known to be much more structured, simpler, and compact than other prominent boards.
● CBSE is more into enhancing the theoretical knowledge of students. Since its primary focus is on science and maths, the CBSE curriculum is advantageous when appearing for technical entrance exams like IIT-JEE & NEET. ICSE, on the other hand, is said to be more about practical knowledge and is suitable for non-technical exams like TOEFL.
● Over 26,000 schools are affiliated with CBSE. This is to say, CBSE has the largest number of school affiliations in India. This board is recognized in all educational institutes over the country and also globally. ICSE does not have these many affiliations, but it is also recognized nationally as well as globally.
There are of course a number of choices other than CBSE and ICSE; for example, NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) and State Boards.
Every board has its own preferences and its own methodology. So, it is up to you to decide what your mission is regarding your school franchise and which board aligns well with your mission. Just remember that research and introspection are crucial steps to finding that mission.