Marginal rise in number of schools affiliated to Cambridge Int'l Exams

There has been a very marginal rise in the number of schools affiliated to Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) in the City in the last five years. This trend is attributed to focus on improving the quality of the existing schools.

CIE is an international examination board under a department of the University of Cambridge, UK, called Cambridge Assessment.

According to figures shared by CIE, there were 30 schools affiliated to the examination board in 2011 and the number has gone up to only 44 schools, five years on.

Ruchira Ghosh, regional director, South Asia, CIE, said: “We are more interested in strengthening our schools at the moment. The number of schools affiliated to CIE in Bengaluru is the second highest in the country. With around 90 schools, Mumbai tops the list.”

Besides the 44 in Bengaluru, there are around two to three other schools affiliated to the board in Karnataka, said Ghosh.

Talking about the possibility of more CIE schools in Bengaluru in the future, she said: “Bengaluru offers a lot of potential in terms of growth for us. There are a number of international companies here.

It is a progressive city with lots of innovations. Parents who might have lived abroad and come back have experienced the kind of learning they got and wish to give the same to their children. Hence, they are looking at education of international standards.”

In India at large, however, is described as “steady” by Ghosh. Presently, there are 357 schools under the board. The numbers were 287 in 2011; 309 schools in 2012; 341 in 2013; and 347 schools in 2014.

In fact, India has one of the highest number of affiliate schools in the world, according to Ghosh.

She also spoke about the introduction of a new learning initiative called the ‘global perspective’, wherein students are taught global issues and other present-day world happenings.