Searching for the best school for your child can be a tricky affair, especially for first-time parents. There has been a great cultural and environmental shift between today’s time and the time when you went to school. The competition is at another level and so are the opportunities. People today are not bound to 5-6 traditional career options but are open to endless opportunities. Getting international clients and business is not that tricky anymore. But that requires your child to learn relevant skills. It all starts with the school and board you decide for your child.
The three major options before you: CBSE, ICSE vs State Board. Which one to select? Let’s break down these 3 boards before drawing a comparison.
- Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
Established On: 1962
Governed By: Ministry of Education, Government of India
Medium: English and Hindi
Reach: National and International Level
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is one of the most widely preferred boards of education across India. Lakhs of schools are affiliated with the CBSE board. The board offers uniformity and consistency across India and is especially suitable for the children of parents with transferrable jobs (like government employees etc.).
- Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE)
Established: 1958
Governed By: Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)
Medium: English
Reach: National Level (Mostly Urban Areas)
The ICSE board is popular for its detailed and comprehensive syllabus. The curriculum focuses on the all-round development of the child with a focus on English, humanities, literature and practical knowledge. It also lays down emphasis on the internal assessment, including practicals and project work. The curriculum is more aligned with the global education standards
- State Board
Governed By: Respective State Education Board
Medium: English, Regional Language of that State
Reach: Concerned State
Each state has its own state education board with its own curriculum like the Gujarat Board (GSEB), Maharashtra Board etc. Each state board is responsible for developing its own curriculum and all the schools operating in that state can get affiliated with the state board. Apart from English, the state language acts as the primary language of the state board. The state boards cater to the specific cultural, linguistic and academic preferences of that region. The syllabus is simpler as compared to the CBSE or ICSE curriculum. Further, during college enrollments, each state gives preference to the students who have studied in the state board of that concerned state.
CBSE vs ICSE vs State Board – The Ideal Board for Your Child!
Let’s draw a comparison between the CBSE, ICSE vs state board to understand their key features and how they stand out amongst others:
| Parameters | CBSE | ICSE | State Board |
| Language Emphasis | English & Hindi | English | English, State Language |
| Practical Learning | Moderate emphasis on practical learning | Strong emphasis on practical learning | Depends upon state |
| Suitability for Competitive Exams | Ideally suitable for most competitive exams like JEE, NEET etc. | Lays good foundation for competitive exams | Not aligned much for national-level competitive exams |
| Difficulty | Moderate difficulty | Highest amongst all three | Lower difficulty (varies across states) |
| Admission to State College | Given moderate preference | Given moderate preference | Given first preference in corresponding state |
| Cut-off for State College Admissions | High cutoffs | High cutoffs | Low cutoffs for admission in same-state colleges and high for admission in colleges of other states |
| Recognition | State: Low National: High International: Moderate | State: Low National: Moderate International: High | State: High National: Low International: Low |
| Benefits | Offers practical exposure and education with national standards, ideal for professional courses. | Strong emphasis on English and alignment with international standards. | Emphasises the state’s culture and language, ideal for students willing to pursue higher education in the same state. |
| Cost of Education | Moderate | High | Affordable |
So Which Board You Should Select?
The ideal school education board for your child depends upon different factors like the education you wish for your child, the type of course you wish him to pursue, your budget etc. Further, there is always an option to change the board of your child to any standard. The type of board you wish for your child will also influence the school you select for them. Finding the right school for your child becomes important so that your child gets a good environment to grow and learn and gel along with other students and friends. You can find the best school with Schoogle which allows you to search, filter and compare schools across different parameters like state, city, board, medium, fees and amenities. Start schoogling now!
