What next after Grade 10 th and why it important to plan and apply now?
As a parent, one of the most difficult decisions they need to make is what career path will my child take after Grade 10? Initially, there were only a handful of professions like doctor, engineer, finance, and teacher, etc. hence the decision was only between three streams i.e. Science/ Arts and Commerce but now there are more than 15000 professions that exist in India, as compared to a decade ago. Hence, it is understandable for parents to feel confused and worried and there are a lot of questions in a parent's mind like:
- Should our child go for the standard science stream?
- Should our child go for commerce?
- Or Should our child take up the non-conventional arts stream?
- Once on the above question we receive some clarity the next question would be which board/college/high school the child take admission for?
And many more….
A few students are clear about what they want in their life. But there are a lot of students who are confused about their career path. Hence, Class 11th is considered to be a very important and confusing crossroad of your career.
So how do we decide upon the stream for the child? The decision should be basis on the child's interests, abilities, and needs. Also, it is important to keep in mind that each child is unique and has different skill sets.
How do you find out which stream in Class 11th the child is interested in? It can be decided by going to a career counselling. Most of the international schools in Mumbai like Aditya Birla World Academy have an in-house counsellor who helps the child with their career goals starting from Grade 8 itself and helps them make an informed career choice.
Find below the mistakes you should avoid while making an informed career choice for your child for Class 11th:
Parental/Societal pressure Taking a stream as they are more respected in the society is not the right way to make an informed career choice. There are a lot of offbeat careers that are doing well
Lack of knowledge There are too many career options available after Class 10 and with the help of proper career guidance and counselling, you will get more clarity and get information on the career options.
Following the crowd One of the most common mistakes that most of the students unknowingly make is following the crowd. A lot of times, students just take up a stream only because their friends have decided to take that stream. This could turn out to be the worst decision of their lives.
It is important that you chose the stream which the student is passionate about rather than doing what most of the students are doing. Once you have decided which stream the child wants to take Science/ Arts/ Commerce. The next important question would be which education boar: Should you go CBSE or ICSE or IB or A Level?
Choosing between IB, A Level, CBSE or ISC is not an easy option. Every education board has its own pro and cons. Choosing the right board and school is very necessary when it comes to giving the child the best of education. Let’s look at the advantages of choosing any education board. It could make the decision easier to decide which board to opt for.
The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) is for students aged 16-19. The Programme aims to develop students to have excellent breadth and depth of knowledge, giving them opportunities to flourish physically, intellectually, emotionally, and ethically. The DP curriculum is made up of six subject groups and the three elements of the DP core, comprising theory of knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) and the extended essay.
In addition to the six subjects, the DP core components aim to broaden students’ educational experience and challenge them to apply their knowledge and skills. They are:
- Theory of knowledge (TOK): Students reflect on the nature of knowledge and on how we know what we claim to know.
- Extended Essay (EE): An independent, self-directed piece of research, finishing with a 4,000-word paper.
- Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS): Students complete a project related to those three concepts.
The IB Program at ABWA boasts a robust well-articulated program taught by experienced educators, aligned with the core principles of the IBDP; it is what makes the program unique amongst the schools offering the IBDP Curriculum in Mumbai.
The Cambridge Advanced is typically for learners aged 16 to 19 years who need advanced study to prepare for university and higher education. The curriculum is flexible, challenging and inspiring, culturally sensitive yet international in approach. Cambridge students develop an informed curiosity and a lasting passion for learning. They also gain the essential skills they need for success at university and in their future careers. The Cambridge International AS & A Level help develop a deep understanding of subjects and independent thinking skills.
The A Levels Program is unique and is based not only on the core values of the Cambridge Program but is adapted to ensure that the students get to apply their classroom knowledge in real life situations through engaging in internships. This helps to give students that added advantage as they prepare to go into a university of their choice.
Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (A Level) offers a good balance of theoretical knowledge and practical experience and also the flexibility in the course gives the freedom to choose subjects that are right for the child. International board philosophy revolves around the all-round development of the student. This gives the children a chance to discover their strengths and understand their true potential. It also gives them an exposure to real life view at a very young age
Benefits of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
- One of the most popular national board of our country is CBSE. CBSE has an integrated curricular approach which helps overall development and it imparts quality knowledge to the students
- CBSE emphasizes on skill development.
- Most of the questions in competitive exams are asked from NCERT hence helping students prepare for competitive exams
- Competitive exams like JEE mains and advanced are conducted by CBSE
Benefits of ISC (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education)
- The curriculum of ICSE is comprehensive and it encompasses all fields with equal importance. Hence, it is considered to be a difficult board.
- Due to their in-depth curriculum, ICSE students become naturally very good in English
- Students who perform good in ICSE are expected to clear the Civil service exam because the art of writing compactly in English is this exam
- The structure and syllabus of ICSE is such that it enables students to look beyond textbooks and have practical insights into the concepts.
- The ICSE curriculum gives the students a solid foundation and prepare them for their future.
- The content of syllabus is vast, but it also develops high knowledge among the students.
So which one is right for my child? Both the IBDP and the Cambridge International A Levels offer similar levels of education, both being post-secondary entry-level qualification courses for university admissions. Both the Cambridge board and the IB work with universities to ensure that students are equipped in terms of content and skills to tackle the rigors of university study. Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) focus on rote learning and lays emphasis on memorizing the syllabus through textbook learning.
Every board has its advantages and disadvantages. Parents should look at all the possible options and make the decision depending upon their child’s interests and learning capability. Some of the other things that can help to make an informed choice include the School philosophy. While choosing an international school in Mumbai for your child afterfor your child after Grade 10, apart from only focusing on the board and co-curricular activities offered by the school, the first and foremost important is the schools vision and Philosophy. There would be lot of information you would be able to gather from others and searching online. One of the important thing to also keep in mind is the vision and philosophy of the school which should match with yours as not only does your child, but you also become a part of the family.
The journey of growing up together becomes fruitful, when you and the school as a team, work towards a common goal, of raising wonderful human Extracurricular activities play an integral part of the overall education of your child. If your child has a hobby, choose a school where it would be easy to pursue it. Hence, it’s important to select the best international school in Mumbai for your children depending upon the nature of activities they conduct.
Don’t be afraid or shy to ask questions related to the international school in Mumbai or college. You will be able to find a lot about the heart of the school and their culture by the way they reply. This would allow you to know more about the school and help you discover whether is a good fit for your child to thrive..
What next? Keeping in the mind the above steps, the next step would be to make a list of schools that meet your criteria.
It is important to know none of the boards are perfect. Every board has its own advantages and disadvantages. It totally depends on the aptitude and interest of the child and goal of the child’s future.
Once you have decided which board your child would opt keeping in mind the admission process is very important so that you do not miss the boat. The application process for international board for Grade 11 starts as the child enters Grade 10. If you looking for Grade 11 admissions for the academic year 2023. It is important to note, the admission process start in July 2022. One of the best international schools in Mumbai, Aditya Birla Academy application process will start second week of July. To know more about the process here is the link for the same
https://www.adityabirlaworldacademy.com/admissions-online-admissions
