Aishwarya Rao, Director, The Vivekalaya Group of Institutions

The increasing number of educational institutions offering the Cambridge curriculum sheds an interesting light on the evolving landscape of hopes, priorities, and education in India, which has been at the heart of most dialogue Indian parents engage in.

Rise of a New Bharath

While several people growing up till the 90’s looked at study-abroad opportunities and offshore careers as ways to a better life, a lot has changed since then. From liberalisation of the economy to aspirations shifting from government jobs to founding start-ups, Indians, the citizens of the
third-largest economy today, now have a drastically different relationship with money, career, and consumption.

With growing internet penetration and successful Indians becoming the face of cutting-edge technology, science, innovation and culture, worldwide, the most noticeable change is in the Indian sensibilities. In their private and public life, many more of our fellow citizens today
proudly embrace the unique blend of local cultures and global influences, rather than choosing between the two.

The Present Generation of Parents

The new generation of parents, who were early beneficiaries of liberalisation, have learnt to navigate global influences and their culture thanks to several factors that the generations before them seldom witnessed in their lives.

While Indians have always had a strong hold on English and STEM skills, such as proficiency with computers, what sets this generation apart from the previous ones is the global exposure they received.

The factors behind this exposure include careers in international companies expanding in India, a large number of immigrant peers, and the influences of the internet and cross-country migrations. All in all, the cosmopolitan spirit of modern India.

Due to this exposure, new-age parents no longer consider studying abroad and permanent residence in first-world nations as the only indicators of success. Aspiration today means seeing one’s children being change-makers in the country and the constantly changing industry without
necessarily being bureaucrats or constitutional office-holders.

It is worth mentioning that no matter the profession, be it entrepreneurship, researcher, social worker, or an entertainer, the future cohort of professionals will need to be multifaceted. This is why a large number of Indian parents are looking at global systems of education, such as the
Cambridge curriculum.

Why is the Cambridge Curriculum an Attractive Choice for Parents Seeking World-Class Education?

Personalised learning, the salient feature of the Cambridge pedagogy, ensures that learners can chart their own path of success, especially when they approach their late teens. Therefore, along with teaching assistance, educational institutions offer guidance to learners in deciding their
career or academic goals.

In senior classes and to some extent during the entire course of school education, the curriculum stands out for offering flexibility in the choice of subjects. Thus, learners supported by career and academic guides, can select from a large pool of disciplines and specialisations to get a
headstart over their peers working towards the same goal.

In other words, when it comes to proficiency in a given discipline, should learners choose to go beyond what is expected from the age group, they can do so with excellence infrastructural support. Similarly, towards the end of their school years, they can drop subjects which don’t inspire them or select a unique combination of subjects which serve their goals or curiosity.

The Significance of Personalised Learning in a New Bharat

While hailing a New Bharat, we often imagine a high-tech, prosperous society, free of discrimination, which celebrates the beauty of our ancient culture and way of life. To build such a society, the country needs free-thinking leaders and innovators who are not just the masters of
their domains but also familiar with the ethos of their fellow citizens.

Moreover, in a world where innovation increasingly comes from the synthesis of different disciplines, being the master of one’s domain means proficiency in multiple fields. The scope of personalised learning, particularly one-on-one guidance, in the Cambridge curriculum helps learners become skilled in various fields, making them future-ready.

This flexibility can also be useful to nudge learners to explore Indian culture, history, and languages or they can deep dive into topics like the Indian economy, governance, and civics.

Therefore, the learners can become better acquainted with the country which they are expected to lead in the coming years. Finally, for citizens of a New Bharat, it is important to adapt to international trends as well as to local realities, and here, an international curriculum can make a difference.

Also read: Schools to get new curriculum after 15 years