Watch: 3 Essential Factors for Returning NRIs to Choose the RIGHT School | Back to India

3:33 Having lived for two decades in the UK in the education system and then my own children bringing them to India and finding ing them a good school and and then you know developing them. So I've been through the journey as a parent but also I hope I will bring I'll be able to bring some insights in terms of Indian school education curricular quality choice of schools and so on and so forth. So that hopefully this talk would help the parents to enable them making those good decisions, good choices and have that journey smoother. Yes, absolutely. So if anyone is curious to hear the story of Dr. Kundal ready you know his own personal journey of moving back to India how was his life and so on. check out the link in the description below where we will share you know his story which we have telecasted in in the past. so with that let's get into today's

4:33 Topic. So let's I think start first with the different curricula that's offered in India and how can one parents choose which curricula would be appropriate for their kid and how should they go about it. Okay. So, India is home for a vast range of curricula. Some curricular parents and NRIs already know because they are widely taught in India. There are certain curricula people don't even know. Okay. So, first in terms of school curricula there's a wide range of choice in India. So like US, UK, Australia they have their own state curricula defined by the government but also schools deliver other curriculara which is not defined by their home governments. Okay. So it's India is similar actually. So in India a widely delivered curricula includes we have lot of states like Telangana,

5:35 Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and so on and so forth. So every state have their own state curricula both in their local languages and also has English as a medium of instruction. So Hyderabad which belongs to Telangana has state curricula as well. Okay. and then it's taught in both English and Telugu. Okay. So quite a lot of students actually go through that state curricula significant proportion. Then you have the Indian curriculum, pan Indian curriculum, CBSC curricula, right? Which basically is delivered across India and basically developed the CBSC as a common core curricula for whole of India is developed by government of India because you know people move bank employees, central government employees move, army, a number of people move across India as part of their jobs and so on. So to enable them several decades ago India India developed this curriculara so that

6:36 Doesn't matter where people move the curriculara will be the same. So that's the fundamental background of CBSE. So CBSC is Indian curriculara. Then you have international curricula which includes IB international balorate and that curriculara started in Switzerland originally started in Switzerland and went across the globe and it's one of the widely recognized and widely taught curricula across the world as an international curriculum recognized both by Indian government colleges and so on and so forth but also worldwide American universities, British universities, Australian universities. So IB international bachelorate is widely recognized global curriculara. Then you also have curriculara like Cambridge or IGC. It's a synonymous you know Cambridge and IGCSE or UK curricula all are same. Okay. So basically Cambridge curricula belongs to UK right so it's developed by UK government and the Cambridge University took the UK

7:37 Curriculara and marketed it outside and that's why it's called Cambridge or IGCSE outside UK okay so it's it's the same and then you have kunop school and belongs to Sweden and so on and so forth which is not wellnown so widely recognized curricula is international balorate IB and also Cambridge or IGCS So that's the picture in terms of India and from nursery up to grade 12 people offered these curricula and it's really important for parents to somebody said this is good or bad I think it's really important to understand what are their needs what are their children needs where they are coming from all of these factors play a very important choice of curricula. So that's the Indian landscape in terms of the curricula.

8:35 Fantastic. So along the same lines I think as you are leading towards how can parents select a particular curriculara u based on their needs or the kids needs how should they think about it so that they have like a deeper understanding of each curricula and then choose the right one for their kids. Yeah. So now one of the major

8:59 Aspects of choice of curricular is number one the quality of education that offers obviously that's number one criteria issued second the needs particular needs or unique particular needs of the child okay for example after studying part particular curriculara where they are going to go for university undergraduate educ ation. Now that's plays a very important factor and what kind of course you want to do at the undergraduate level degree level. Okay. After you finish that particular curricula. Okay. So the quality and also your needs the parents and children both because for example a particular parent might actually say okay for undergraduate my child is going to do medicine or engineering in India. Then that factor also influences the choice of the curriculara. Or some parent an NRI parent might say okay so my child is a US citizen or British citizen.

10:00 They are definitely going to go to US to study their undergraduate degree engineering, computing, business or whatever. Okay. Then the factor changes and somebody wants to do do and do a a different type of course whether medicine in India or engineering India or business accountancy. So all of these factors play into so the two main things quality and also the choice or potential choice they're going to make when they finish the 12th standard after picking that curricular. So those two factors are very important. we'll we'll probably discuss each of these in a minute. But I think those are the key factors. The quality of education that offers the school where you're going to send and finally but most importantly the undergraduate choice that you have in your mind for your child.

10:52 Got it. So let's I think continue that conversation. So you kind of mentioned about quality of education. So let's I think try to understand the quality of education of these different curricula or like how is that different relative to the countries like in US, UK, Australia. So if you can shed some insights which can help parents to understand this quality of education that is offered from different curricula. Sure. Sure. So I think let's pick an example so that it's much easier for parents to understand the core differences. So every curriculara offers its own strengths and it has its own pluses and minuses. Okay. So let's pick from Indian curriculara point CBSE. Okay. CBSC is widely delivered Indian curriculara within India and some other Gulf countries as well. Okay. So CBSC is a very widely delivered curriculara Indian curriculara. Let's pick international balorate as a

11:52 International curricula and let's try to see what are the key differences, what are the key strengths. now I'm not going to say this is good, this is bad. But what I would like to put on the table for the parents to is understand you know the differences, the strengths, the weaknesses and then decide themselves what is good for them. Okay. So let's pick CBSC first. CBSC as a curricula is very structured and very organized curricula. Okay. So let's pick 9inth class CBSE. Okay. 9th class CBSC science for example. So 9th class CBSC science has a textbook for CBSE. It has 14 chapters or something like that. 12 or 14 chapters very organized human body atomic structure magnetism electricity and so on and so forth. So 9inth class science very structured 12 to 14 chapters in ninth class science and CBSC board across India they release

12:53 A textbook right nobody can change that curriculara right so the board itself defines 100% of the curriculum and releases a textbook for 9th class science and teacher before they go into the classroom they prepare you know definitions let's pick electricity within ninth class as a chapter They open the chapter, they read the textbook, the teachers and they find some experiments, essay essay questions, multiple choice questions at the end of the chapter. definitions, theory, all of that. Okay? And they come to the classroom and teachers very well know what to teach because it's defined in that chapter of 9th class ality chapter. Now the students also know because they have each one of them have their own textbook and across India it's the same textbook nothing different okay so if it's really good teacher really good CBSC teacher they might find some textbook but I'm talking about really good CBSC teachers okay so very well

13:55 Definfined very structured common across India and and parents know what happening teachers know what's happening children know what's happening and let's say your kid ninth class CBAC science they come home and if you ask as a parent what's happening they say well I'm studying electricity chapter we finished seven or eight chapters and now I'm studying the elixity chapter so parents also have a very clear idea 50 60% of the you know syllabus is finished now so they know where their child is in terms of nth class science similarly other subjects as well okay so very structured everybody knows what to and really good teachers might go outside to bring some examples and so on and so forth. However, this is quite important point. If a teacher teaches well, if a student really good student reads the whole reads the whole how would I put it the science book of ninth class very well they can get 100

14:55 Out of 100. They don't need to go anything beyond the textbook of that CBSC textbook to score 100 out of 100. Right? So you get the philosophy of structured organized very well boundary defined boundaries. Now to continue the same example. So once they pass 11th and 12th in CBSC system within India in India they have certain advantages right because most of the entrance exams within India whether you take ITJ or neat and so on and so forth they are based on predominantly CBSC curriculum. Okay. So that's why studying the CBSC within India has that advantage of cracking the entrance exams.

15:40 Okay. So the depth of the subject knowledge is pretty good in CBSC and the advantages are structured organized. There are plenty of teachers who can teach CBSC and also the theory focus is quite high in the CBSC curriculum. and when they pass out 12th grade they really are geared up quite well for IITJ or NEAt or other entrance exams. I'm not suggesting CBSC guarantees an IIT seat. Millions of people study CBSC but that doesn't mean it doesn't gu it does guarantee. However, they are better geared up for those entrance exams. So so CBSC those are the core aspects and key advantages and strengths of CBSC. then let's compare IB international bachelorette which is a global curriculum in the similar lines.

16:32 Okay. So the IB curriculum is very broad-based much more application oriented curriculum and it tries to inculcate that holistic development in the children in addition to good subject knowledge. Okay. So those are the key strengths of IB. So let's u and it's globally recognized including within India. so those students who pass out with 12th grade which is diploma program they call 11th and 12th as a diploma program in IB DP1 DP2 diploma program one diploma program 2 and when they pass out India very well recognizes the IB curriculara to go into undergraduate degrees and also across the world from Australia, United States, UK every country recognizes IB curriculum which is which is a strongly proven curriculum. So in terms of the curriculum itself, let's pick the same example of 9th grade. Okay. which is called middle years program in IB terminology. So let's pick pick the

17:34 Ninth grade IB science or integrated science they call it as a subject. Now the IB board defines very broadly what should be taught at IB 9th grade the middle years program in that year. it doesn't release these are the 14 chapters that you must teach right and this is the textbook for you the teacher to follow and these are the boundaries right IB doesn't do that like CBSE okay IB very well defines what should be taught in the nth grade Alexity magnetism human body environmental sciences and so on and so forth it defines very clearly in terms of what should be taught in the ninth grade IB But it doesn't release a book, right? There are other publishers who create a book for IB, but there is no official book that this is it. This is the ninth grade science book for IB.

18:33 Now the reason it doesn't do it is IB wants the school and the teachers to actually take that curriculum of IB 9th grade science and prepare a lesson plan taking the current developments in that aspect let's say Alexity right and teach the students that holistic understanding application oriented knowledge for the students in that subject. So a teacher needs to refer to several books or probably some online material and so on and so forth in order to prepare a lesson plan for alexity because there's no bound book and a chapter like in the CBSC. So therefore the teacher needs to work much harder in order to actually get the grips with that particular chapter subject. Coal based electricity, atomic electricity, what is the science behind it, what are the you know pollution caused by it and and also you know what is the best cost efficient form of

19:34 Producing electricity, clean energy, all of that the teacher has to teach and also look at the current examples and also encourage students to think about all these repercussions of various forms of electricity, the science behind it, the cost behind it and so on. So they also encourage students to come back to the classroom and say right okay what have you learned present XY Z about certain form of electricity and its impact on the environment what is the best way to provide clean energy cost effective in various countries all of this now the breadth of the subject understanding is quite significantly more in IB whereas the depth of science itself is more in CBSC okay so that's the core difference in terms of the curricular delivery And the teachers who are delivering the IB curriculum has to be very well trained and because they should have the ability to do their own research, develop a lesson plan, customize it and then deliver to the classroom. So that's quite significant

20:35 Responsibility on the shoulders of the teachers. Yeah. Now if the child goes to home and say and parent asks IB child what's happening in the classroom, what are you studying in science? They're not going to say my 60% curriculum is finished because I am in the eighth chapter or 9th chapter. They'll say now we are working on Alexity you know as a concept. So sometimes the parents may feel a little bit vague you know in terms of what's happening with their child because you know it's it's a it's much more dynamic. The curriculum delivery is much more dynamic in terms of the this thing. That's why the quality of the teacher, the quality of the school is much more important when it comes to IB schools. Got it. Relative to the relative to the CBSE.

21:20 Now let's progress a little bit forward. So as IB students go further in terms of

21:25 Their 11th and 12th grade, you know, in the IP curriculum, then there are plenty of opportunities within India for them to do you know, engineering, computing, business management and so on and so forth. and also opportunities are there outside India. Plenty of opportunities. so that's the that's the core difference in terms of IB curriculum and CBSC curriculum and and of course you know I don't want to go too much of detail into Cambridge as well but I will touch a little bit on that. Now lot of parents don't know this. Even though Cambridge is a global curriculum or you know UK based curriculum Cambridge or IGCSE it is much more nearer to CBSC curriculum right because the Cambridge or IGC curriculum is similar because the UK government defines a structured curriculum and also releases or or know there's a textbook and so on. So in a

22:27 Say genetically the IB sorry genetically the CBSC and IGCSC's Cambridge curriculum are much more similar. In fact, I'm sure when CBSC curriculum was del developed a few decades ago, it's drawn a lot of things from the Cambridge IGCSC curriculum of UK, right? So whereas the IB curriculum is much more much more broader and much more different from from CBSC stroke Cambridge curriculum makes sense. No, thanks for that. So just to continue on that and maybe one quick question. So I know we talked about I think people who are from CDSC are well prepared for you know these entrance exams. So where does the Cambridge fall in like because it's kind of linked it's a structured but how well are they prepared for the these entrance exams.

23:18 Okay. So Indian entrance exams I'm talking about. so so we're not talking about SATs and all of that. Okay. So Indian entrance exams specifically CBSC and Cambridge are a bit similar. Okay. so for example if you want to go to engineering in India you need to have math physics and chemistry as a core subjects that's must if you want to go medicine for example you need to have physics chemistry and biology right everybody knows this so the Cambridge curriculum allows that structure reasonably in a simple way okay so in that sense the structure is there however when it comes to the syllabus itself it's significantly different right the syllabus itself the choice of the subjects are there okay but syllabus is significantly different because it's it's developed in the UK it's as simple as that so it's a UK curriculum which Cambridge University simply took it and

24:19 Globalized or marketed it across the world so it's not geared up for our insense exams like CBSC but structure is similar so in that sense they need to prepare extra. Let's say somebody's studying Cambridge curriculum in in India, they need to prepare extra during their 11th and 12th grades so that they can actually be ready for the entrance exams whether it's need ITJ or state state entrance exams and so on and so forth. So they have to make that extra preparation because it doesn't cover or match exactly like a CBSC curriculum. Whereas the entrance exams is 100% based on the CBSC curriculum they study from 10th, 11th and 12th. Okay. so in that sense so let's come to the reason I'm talking about the choice of the subject. This is quite important. So IB if you take IB the choice of subjects doesn't matter which undergraduate degree or which kind of combinations you choose in IB. I'm talking about 11th

25:20 And 12th. You must take mathematics in IB. So mathematics is compulsory in IB. Right? Then you can take physics, chemistry, two sciences, a foreign language, English and so on and so forth. Right? Now for engineering it's straightforward. Somebody who took IB to do them they have math, physics and chemistry. Math is compulsory. Now let's say somebody wants to do medicine. In India after taking IB then you need to pick three sciences. Okay. Because you already have mathematics. Mathematics is compulsory. If you want to study business, accountancy, arts, doesn't matter what you want to study as a choice in IB, mathematics is compulsory because that's a global standard. Many countries insist. Okay. So so therefore the IB students needs to take math and three sciences to be eligible for NEAT or medical entrance exams in India. That's one complexity or one additional need

26:24 That they need to go through. Right? That's only one pinch point for IB students. Math plus three sciences they have to take. Got it? Because worldwide they don't insist on having physics for medical students. Only in India that's a peculiar need that you need to do chemistry, biology and what you call this the the mathematics. So physics, chemistry and biology three subjects you need to have. They don't need mathematics in India. Whereas across the world they don't need physics but many universities need mathematics. So that's the best thing. So coming to the question when it comes to engineering, business management, accountancy, computer science, all the courses, arts, economics, philosophy, it doesn't matter what you want to study, IB is geared up simply quite well. if you want to do medicine abroad while after finishing IB then also it's quite simple because across the world nobody asks for physics as a third science so therefore that's

27:24 Also only within India only for medicine there is an additional need to take three sciences for IB students so so that's the the the entrance exams now when it comes to law when it comes to IMAT or management aptitude for undergraduate entrances engineering all of that IB and CBAC have similar or Cambridge has a similar needs now similar to Cambridge IB is also not geared as CBSC curriculum for these entrance exams in India okay that's that's for sure now Cambridge or IB they need to go for additional reading additional coaching within the school to in order to take those entrance exams and many IB students many Cambridge students with international curricula they cracked IIAT as well they cracked neat and all of that there are

28:24 Several examples but I'm not saying that it's as easy as CBC curriculum they need to work that bit harder so in India I can categorically say that CBSC students or state curriculum students have a slight advantage when it comes to entrance exams And similarly if you take international balorate that slight disadvantage when it comes to entrance exams in India turns out to be a huge advantage if they go abroad.

28:53 Sure. Because they studied you know global curriculara. They're geared up for the you know system of you know international universities global universities and so on. I'll just give a a small example Ainashia. So if you take Ivy League universities in the US or Russell group universities like Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Imperial College, London and so on in the so top universities in the UK, top universities in the US especially top universities in the US, Harvard, MIT, you know UCLA and all of that the success rate of all the applicants together is around 3% in IB League. So every 100 applicants including the US students. Yeah. Right? Every only 3% actually are offered places. Okay? Out of 100. Now if you take IB students alone, IB applicants alone after their 12th grade to the IB League universities in the US or top university in the UK, the success rate is around 5 and a half to 6%.

29:56 Right. So that you know over the last 10 15 years there's a specific you know information on that. So IB students have a great advantage you know when they study abroad but on a whole I understand that around 30% to 40% IB students are studying undergraduate degrees in India and around 60% plus are going to abroad whether it's US Australia and so on. So yes they can study engineering and other programs business management in India as well. Some students went for neat as well IB students. so so that's all happening but a significant portion is going abroad from the IB after their IB. Okay thanks for that. So I think continuing that I think you kind of mentioned about you know people who have done the IB curpula like I think Indian colleges recognize that.

30:48 So just to confirm so if they have to get admissions into these colleges is there another way like for people or the kids who have done IB curricula instead of like these entrance exams because if it's recognized is there another admission process for the kids who have gone through this curula okay very important question and I think most of the parents have this in mind that if they study IB you know they had to go to you know overseas to study undergraduate degree So the primary aspect is let's little bit more about entrance exams. Most of the entrance exams there are two things in the one is to get qualified. Okay. for example if you have NET or if you have other engineering entrance exam one level is getting qualified which means that if you qualify most of the colleges will take you you know whether payment seats or whether you know through various categories and NR categories and so on and so forth but you must qualify. Vast

31:49 Majority of IB students easily qualify right without huge effort they easily qualify for the entrance exams. vast majority very easily they will qualify. Now the second level is getting higher ranks. Okay, for example, IITJ high rank, neat high rank to get free seats, to get government college seats, those kinds of things. That's where the disadvantages. I'm not saying they can't crack it. They do crack it. There are hundreds of examples where IB graduates or IB 12th graduates and CB Cambridge 12 graduates cracked these and got free seats, I seats and so on. So there are

32:25 Plenty of examples, but it's not that easy. So as they qualify through these entrance exams, parents can choose a m hundreds of colleges and universities across India. Right? So that's a that's an important point and it's not difficult for IB or Cambridge students to qualify. Okay. So that opens the door for you know huge number of this thing you know leaving the you know NITs and and IT and so on and so forth. So that's first part. The second part is private university landscape in India. huge number of good quality private universities or autonomous universities came in which don't go through the general entrance exam route they can recruit students on their own in Hyderabad has several symbiosis you have bits you have which have their own entrance exam but you have Mahindra University all these universities have direct admissions as well you right without going through the whole unshoka university you have so many good

33:26 Universities which are there across India for engineering, for medicine and so on and so forth. so qualifying also opens the door for you know and direct route also to this valu institute of technology and so on and so forth. All of this have plenty of opportunities. Doesn't matter which course, law, medicine, arts, economics and so on and so forth. Only to the government university campuses require those very high ranks in those entrance exams. That's where the difficulty not impossibility but difficulty lies. But when it comes to having a good very high quality opportunities to degree, there are plenty in every field for IB graduates. Yeah, thank you for that. So continuing to that conversation right I think for IB you mentioned about the prep work required and that's where the schools the teachers they all play a big role so along the same lines what to look for school like you know when the parents

34:27 Are considering they decide a curriculum that they want to go with and then how do how do they should go about selecting a particular school okay so know I'll give example of you know general school landscape. so I mean obviously at Manchester Global School Hyderabad where we have both day scholars and residential boarding capacity we have we offer from nursery up to 12th grade in IB and we also offer CBSC as well. Okay. So in terms of how to go various steps of choosing a school there are a few factors which I would highlight. Okay. And as an educationalist myself, I always you know quality comes first, right? and I really do believe you know in that core aspect of quality of education.

35:19 Okay. So quality of education is determined by the leadership of the institution including the founders including the principles and of course the teachers you know how very good the teachers is because I always you know suggest to the parents who come to Manchester Global School the first criteria in terms of our school development is world-class education with great teachers right without great teachers you can't deliver good quality education full stop Doesn't matter you know how big the campus is and what they are saying what kind of franchisee what kind of curriculum. So quality of education with great teachers is the number one factor and how well the leadership team of the school is geared to identify and also to retain not only recruit but retain those great teachers in a long-term basis. And you won't believe Avinach in at Manchester Global School we are a 20 acres campus. The first building we have completed is not the school building.

36:19 The first building we completed is a teacher's residency. We built 50 flats so that we provide not only best pay but also free accommodation for our teachers and majority of the teachers live on campus. So that there is an incentive for them there is a loyalty there is a connection close connection with the school for the teachers. So as a as an educationalist or teacher researcher myself I really believe in that. Yeah. So the first aspect is world-class education with great teachers. Right. The second I would say holistic development of the child right the world-class education good mathematics teaching well in science English and then so on and so forth all of those subjects then holistic development now if you open Manchester global school's brochure or any school's brochure everybody will say right holistic development overall development of the child but I always suggest parents to ask the question how you going to do it right how you going to achieve this

37:19 Overall development or holistic development of the child because every every parent it's important holistic development today you know educated parents professional parents they they ask this but ask them ask any school you go to how you're going to achieve and that's where you know sometimes it's easy to identify because 90% of the schools in in in Hyderabad or across India do not have 100 square yards of playground 100 square yards. Right. So how are they going to achieve the holistic development? See the holistic development what I mean or what we mean at Manchester Global School is various things. Communication skills, how to influence people, how to be resilient, you know, how to take pressures of life, financial literacy, being a lifelong learner and so on. We clearly define what holistic development of the child means. And we don't conduct annually one or two seminars on those areas. You need to embed those holistic development factors into the curriculum

38:20 And teach day in and day out both within the classroom and outside the classroom. So you need to look for the second factor of holistic development. You need to look for infrastructure very very keenly. So for example, I only you know take the school. So at Manchester Global School, we introduce 14 different sports, right? From cricket to football to swimming, archery and so on. On campus, not somewhere else, but on campus. they they can actually pick any sport they like out of these 14 different sports. They can actually pick one team sport and one individual sport depending on their interest, strength and so on. And and they can grow, you know, into those sports. So why is that important? Because to develop resilience, how to take pleasures of life, to develop the confidence, communication skills, lot of things happen in the classroom, but a lot of things happen outside the classroom. You fall down on the ground, somebody pushes you, you know, all of this doesn't happen in the classroom.

39:21 You somebody holds your hand, you work as a team on the playground. So all of this happens, I would say 60 70% of holistic development happens outside the classroom. you you know how to deal with people because somebody tackled you on the football ground. So the same skill sets you know the strengths that you develop through those aspects whether curriculum extracurricular activities sports all of that you take into your life and that's why we strongly believe at Manchester Global School that the overall the holistic development is so critical and the infrastructure plays quite a role. So first is world-class education with great teachers. Second, holistic development of yochai. The third I I don't know whether you know how many schools or whatever but at least in our school we play a very very important role the core values right in addition to subject knowledge and overall development we also want to focus on core values and I really wherever educational institutions I attend a lot of graduation ceremonies of other institutions I speak at them

40:24 And I always say that's very important not just to be good but also that having those core values gives a very great strength. So what do we mean by that? Believing in hard work, believing long-term commitment to something whether it's subject, whether it's relationships, whether it's whatever that is in life. so India has produced you know great businessmen, great technologist you know great CEO Satya Tandela, Sundar Pichai all of that they grew up with a mindset of working hard having a level of loyalty to whether subject knowledge technology company whatever a technology perspect that that what we grew up with and I really unfortunately I believe that we're slowly losing that you know that kind of core values that we grew up with and it's really important That's what you know got India where it is today in the last 20, 25, 30 years. Now I think we should not lose those core values.

41:18 Belief in hard work, belief in respect to parents, teachers, belief in long-term commitment and so on. So three I would say in a broadest sense world-class education with great teachers, holistic development and core values. If a school can do this, I really think that you know you have given quite a fantastic education to your child. I'll give you one example when it comes to core values. and that really again unfortunate example not a great example. So it's been 90

41:50 Years 90 India has not produced homegrown has single science nobel or it 1.4 4 billion people right so 90 years ago we produced four before independence four science noble aits we haven't produced a single science noble or homegrown since our independence 90 years passed by 1.4 4 billion most populace. Why did this happen? Because people don't have the schooling system, the educational system is not geared up of producing next CV Raman, next even Amani for that matter, right? we have you know somehow the schools got into this short-term entrance exams ranks you know IIT I am HSBC London you know that's the three three crores package that's kind of thing not pioneers path breakers leaders entrepreneurs in fact so to to con conclude that answer the very reason why we established this school is to you know exactly do that to so a so so se so a seed in the form of matched global school where we create

42:51 We grow pioneers path breakers leaders and entrepreneurs for tomorrow. So that's the key thing and there are certain good schools in India you know very few who can who who have that kind of you know vision and so on. So I think the three world-class education great teachers core values and holistic development if you know that those are the fundamentals you need to look for doesn't matter where which state and so on. Yeah. So that's a good summary and also like all the best with your plans I think you know how you wanted to have these pioneers path breakers to be developed. I think you know that's something that you have to do from ground up I think you know when they're growing itself. So switching gears a little bit so if someone is moving from abroad like especially who has done some schooling in abroad and they're planning to continue the schooling in India are there any tips or any insights or things that you would suggest for parents or for kids to do so that they can comfortably transition well into the

43:53 Indian school system whether you know irrespect of the curricula irrespect of the school it's just some of the things to kind of help them out with the transition So so each of the country varies but generally the the tools tips I would give is a few actually. So the first is if they are quite young let's say you are coming when your children in is in grade 1, grade two know something like that then you have a lot of room to make some further decisions. Okay. it becomes much more easier to selecting a school at at that at that level. The three factors I said you know does the school has great teachers, good infrastructure, playgrounds that play a role. However, let's say you are moving a child when they are in grade 8 or 9. Okay. Now this point you know anything grade seven or above you need to consider couple of technical aspects very very clearly. So let's say

44:53 First of all when you move from US or UK or Australia which grade they would come into. Okay. This particular factor applies throughout even from grade 1 to grade 12. Okay. Grade 10. So which grade they will move. So let's say in the UK system if you are finished grade 8 in the UK system and you want to after grade 8 you are coming to India for your with your child. Now logically you think that they'll go into grade nine. But that is not the case because in the UK system all the students are one year ahead. Okay. When they are studying grade 1 2 3 4 up to grade 9. Okay. So GCSEs which is a UK core they study almost two as if they're studying 10th grade for two years.

45:50 Okay. So when they finish their GCSE which is equivalent to 10th grade they become equal to all the curriculum in the world until 9th grade they're one year ahead because the 10th grade they study for two years I'm simplifying then they become equal and they go 11th and 12th same as everybody okay now if you are moving from 8th grade into India that means they are one year ahead so highly likely you need to repeat grade 8 in India because there is no 10th grade 2 years. Right. Whether it's you're moving IB, CBA, C. So that's a basic you know fundamental. So that you need to consider technicalities. Now the reason I'm pinpointing that first is lot of parents and some schools also don't know this. You know they don't do analyze where they are coming from. Oh 8th grade and now I'll put 9th grade. Okay. so that's quite important. Okay. So which system you are coming from and which grade they need to go into.

46:51 Yes. Okay. Once you sorted out that very important so keep that in mind because if you finish 12th instead of 18 years old if you finish let's say 16 year old finishing DP doesn't matter how many how many marks they have most of the British US UK universities they don't allow you at age 16 to go into a university. Yeah you need to put lot of special measures. I'm not saying it's impossible but you need to put lot of special measures. you know they can't travel alone they can't stay in the normal halls of residence all kinds of things come into okay so that's why it's important to for them to come into the right grade when you are coming to India now the second point is the undergraduate choice which we touched upon slightly now let's say there's the US NRI coming into India and let's say their kids are you know US citizens and the parents have already decided you know in scenario one they have already decided Ed let's take UK as well for this matter already decided to go back for undergraduate degree or send their children to undergraduate degree in the

47:52 US then obviously it becomes much simpler right so for IB absolutely fine there's no issue at all IB is better geared if they are going back as I said before okay so that's quite an important point because or if you say scenario two you want to do a medicine you have you are particularly 100% my kid loves doing medicine and that too in India and as an NRA parent I want to them to do or my girl to do medicine in India if you have 100% made the decision then probably no the curriculum choice will vary okay so as they said CBSC you know offers that you know three sciences without math so that may be a better idea if you want to do medicine in the UK then your choice changes so your undergraduate choice If you are particular, if you're open-minded, that's fine. They are going ahead. If you're particular that they are going to go back for undergraduate degree in the US or go back for undergraduate degree

48:53 In the UK, you need to make those subject choices accordingly when you come to India. So that's the second

49:00 Technical point. The third aspect is don't have this impression that I have to send my kid back to US or UK. A lot of parents have this misunderstand. Yes, it's fantastic if you want to send them in to to to US, UK, that's absolutely fine or Australia. But there are plenty of opportunities, you know, be with an open mind in terms of the the the overall spectrum of opportunities whether it's engineering, medicine, computing, business, economics and so on. So that's one of the key factors be with an open mind. And then one aspect I would also suggest is look at how well that particular school you are choosing is geared up for these scenarios. Okay.

49:51 So definitely I want to take my child to UK after their 12th grade to you know UCL, Imperial, Oxford, Cambridge or Liverpool University doesn't matter. Then you know does the school has systems in place to prepare them for you know ILTS or something. Same for the US do they have some level of coaching inbuilt into the campus inbuilt into the care you know SAT coaching and other things. also how well they are in terms of you know providing the services you know advisory services right. So for example in our school from 10th grade itself we'll start advising the students and also the parents you know subject choices you know where do you want to go based on that the subject choices might change and so on and so forth this has to happen quite early before they choose 11th grade subjects and so on. So the ecosystem of the school also comes into the picture when you make these challen especially NRS makes those choices. So look for those aspects

50:54 You know very very closely. Got it. So let's switch gears a little bit. I think maybe this is a little bit of a tactical question that I hear from lot of parents. So what are some of the legal and practical documents that required for school admission for OCI holders? You know typically like maybe you know they don't get like a TC in US or you know in abroad. So what are the documents that required for an OCI? And there is also like along the same lines is Aadhaar mandatory for OCI students and you know there is this 180day rule where OCI holders can't get an Aadhaar card until they live in India for 180 days. So how do you kind of work around that? So if you can talk a little bit of the tactical things of documents and you know how the OCI students can go through that. Yeah great. I think at Manchester Global School here we faced a lot of those aspects. So I'll take a few examples as well while I'm explaining.

51:53 So we have almost in the first year itself we have over 30 students NRIs with OCI cards and so on. So yes it does take a few months to get the Aadhaar card but the schools generally would be geared up you know to give the admission and then help. So for example, we created a kind of two or three-day workshop to actually apply for Aadhaar you know from the school itself take the pictures in a right way and so on because sometimes they have to go to Mandal headquarters all kinds of this things. So we asked people to come here and do the whole process of applying for Aadhaar and so on it became much easier. So yes it does take 3 months and so on but schools are generally at least at Manchester global school we take that as a flexibility we give the admission they start attending the classes if they came in a hurry then they can submit those documents in the meantime so that that flexibility is there and I think most of

52:54 The schools should provide you know that so we do help those those technicalities here and most of the schools I'm sure they do as well okay it's but they must require Aadhaar eventually yes Okay, that's first aspect and obviously parents passport copies and children passport copies OCI card that should be sufficient to start you know in terms of the schooling and all of that. So one thing but before that before they started their journey from UK or US and so on you need to do a few things a lot of parents do miss this I'll pick UK example in fact I was advising one of the parents who already joined but coming after around IB program in our school at one global school from UK so in the UK what happened doesn't matter which school you went to Okay.

53:48 What they do is they give a completion or end of the year report report. Yeah. It has the that they have finished grade 8 or 9 or 10 whatever end of the year report from the school. They also give grades you know may not be like in India 80 out of 100 in science not like a B whatever you know whatever the system of that country they give a report which includes the grades which includes the date of leaving the school and so on and so forth. Okay. And that paper is quite important that is almost like your TC. It might not say transfer certificate but the end of the year report is sufficient. Yeah, that is considered as a TC almost in at least Master Global School considers as a TC and we do not have any problem in terms of government when we submit the records to the government of our students. So that's not an issue. Okay.

54:38 But you need to get that. you must get that. There's another reason why you need to get end of the year report. For example, if you take UK maybe I don't know that much of technical detail in the US but in the US also they give the end of the year reports. Now in the UK in particular they can actually if you are leaving let's say June time or July 1 week right the academic year completes or finishes in the UK around mid or end of July across the UK. Okay. August is a holiday time. Now this friend, this this this parent they are moving in July first week because the IB and most of the schools here start in July. Right. They need to skip a few weeks in the UK, take the end of the year certificate and move.

55:29 Okay. If they complete it, for example, if it's lower classes, then it's not a much a problem. You can come a bit late. But if you're coming to 9th or 10th grade here in India, then you need to better come early and start here at an appropriate date in India. Okay, you should sacrifice maybe two or 3 weeks in US or UK and better come here better. I'm not saying that it you must but better. So this UK citizen is coming early and he's taking the end of the year report so that the child is leaving two or 3 weeks early than he's supposed to. Yeah. In the UK system, they'll give interim report as well. Most of the if you request the most of the schools, they give interim report. Now, that's also useful at the airport, right? In the UK system, you can be fined in the airport if you move the child during the school time.

56:23 Wow. Okay. Okay. And it can stay on the parents record. Okay. So, yeah. So, it's not a nice thing to do. Okay. I'm not saying that you know it's harsh as deport and all of that, but you know, you need to. So they will so then your end of the year report says that this child is leaving early because he got admitted into Indian school. You have offer letter from India from Manchester global school or X school whatever and they you'll have the both the documents so they will understand this child is moving to study in India. So he's not skipping the classes here. So that kind of thing. So end of the year report from there your admission letter from here is quite important and you need to admission letter you don't need to have the enrollment and all of that but at least admission letter you need and and that will make the process very smooth.

57:09 Okay. I I I know I know we went quite deep but so yeah so coming to the documentation yes those are the critical things before you start and once you arrive in India and and I think school generally or at least top schools are generally geared up for helping the parents on those aspects. Got it. No thank you very much for sharing this because it's some of the practical thing that people are a little bit concerned. So it's good to have the information directly from the head of the school who oversees that and you know how how the parents can navigate it. I I know we can continue this conversation but I think you know we had about an hour of the information and lot of details there. I think you know if anyone is interested to learn more about Manchester Global or if you want to take a assessment and see which curriculum could be appropriate for you or talk to you know some of the admissions or academics team

58:09 To get insights in terms of the school especially if you're moving to Hyderabbad we have a link in the description below where you can fill in the information and someone from the Manchester global team will reach out you talk to you and provide some information. so with that thank you very much Dr. Conor already for taking your time sharing lot of insights especially in terms of the different curriculums how a parent can choose also like how they should think about like selecting a particular school and some of the tactical things in terms of the OCI holders. So really appreciate you taking the time and sharing all that with us today. Thank you very much indeed a and I really wish all the parents their best in terms of you know choice of the school curriculum and so on. I hope a few insights we have given from Manchester Global School perspective and my own educating my children in the UK and then bringing to India all that perspective. I hope some of those aspects would be useful for parents.

59:10 But if any parents are interested to consider our school you're always welcome at Manchester Global School Hyderabad. thank you very much indeed. Great. Thanks. Take care.