International schooling in India was once considered an elite choice, but it is now widely accepted. India now has the world’s second-largest number of foreign schools associated with global education boards such as the IB and Cambridge. A decade ago, these schools were uncommon, but now, parents across the country are discussing whether to use Indian boards or foreign curriculums.
At the start of the twenty-first century, only eight Indian schools provided the IB programme, and the presence of Cambridge IGCSE was too minor to mention. In 2011-12, there were 197 Cambridge and 99 IB schools. Today, India has 972 foreign schools, up 10% over the last five years compared to an 8% global rise. Maharashtra leads with 210 such schools, followed by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana.
Rising wages and aspirations drive this need. International schools have extended beyond metropolitan areas, now serving tier 2 and 3 cities. Parents prefer smaller class sizes, inquiry-based learning, and worldwide career options. Experts remark that international education is now strongly ingrained in India, with the majority of students choosing to stay for further courses. International education in India is no longer the exception; it is the future.
