Schools in India: Guide to Education in India 

A strong emphasis on education and schools in India has been the driving force behind the country’s flourishing economy. However, the standards at Indian public schools often fail to meet international standards. Even in private schools, the teaching methods may not be suitable for expat children.

International schools that follow either the curriculum of an expat’s home country or a globally recognised qualification such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) tend to be the preferred option for most expat families moving to India.

Public schools in India suffer as a result of administrative issues and chronic underfunding, and facilities are mediocre at best. They tend to emphasise rote learning and strongly focus on academics, leaving little scope for creativity and extra-curricular activities. A new education policy aims to shift toward competency-based learning, but the implementation across public schools in India has been slow and uneven.

While some public schools in India teach in English, this is generally not the case outside the major cities. This creates a language barrier that expat students may struggle to overcome.

Indian families hold academic accomplishments in high regard and push their children to excel at school. Those who can afford to, as well as expats, tend to avoid the public schooling system in India, preferring the higher standard of education at private schools.

While private schools in India have an excellent reputation, they too emphasise results and rote learning, which isn’t always suitable for expat students.

Private schools are a popular option among middle-class Indian families. Local students are highly competitive and experience a lot of pressure from their families as well as society in general. Many expat students will be unaccustomed to this culture and may find this type of learning environment frustrating.

That said, private schools are a good option for expat families who plan on settling down in India in the long term. It’s also a good choice for those who want their children to have a more integrated learning experience, mixing with local children.

There are close to 1,000 international schools in India, and it’s the second-largest hub for international schools in the world. Most are found in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune.

These institutions are the ideal option for most expats as they allow children to continue studying a familiar curriculum from their home country. Most teach in English or the language of the school’s origin, which eases the transition for expat students.

The standard of teaching at international schools is excellent, class sizes are small, and facilities are of a high standard. These institutions also offer their students a wider range of extra-curricular activities.

American and British international schools are well represented throughout India, and there’s a growing number of premium UK boarding school brands entering the market. There is also a smaller number of international schools that teach the German, French, and Japanese curricula in the major cities.

The main downside of attending an international school in India is the cost. Tuition fees at international schools in India are high, so expat parents moving to India for work should try to negotiate a schooling allowance into their relocation package. It’s also worth noting that the best international schools tend to be oversubscribed, so expats should begin the application as far in advance as possible for the best chance of securing a spot.