Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, CBSE will implement a global curriculum for international students in accordance with NEP 2020. Board exams will be part of this twice a year. International education is becoming more accessible and reasonably priced in India thanks to the curriculum’s emphasis on global education, critical thinking, and ongoing assessment. CBSE Beginning with the academic year 2026–2027, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) plans to implement a worldwide curriculum for international students. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which seeks to give students more flexibility and an education that is competitive worldwide, is in line with this program, which is a component of a larger reform strategy.
This is not the first global endeavour that CBSE has attempted.
The CBSE has also dabbled in overseas curricula before. To accommodate Indian students residing overseas, CBSE launched the CBSE International (CBSE-i) curriculum in 2010, more than ten years ago. A pilot program for grades I through IX was launched in 25 Middle East and South Asian schools as the first of the initiative’s several stages of implementation. More international schools and a few Indian universities were added afterwards.
The National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) rules and the National Curriculum Framework served as the foundation for the syllabus’s framework, which integrated a global viewpoint while preserving essential Indian disciplines.
What is the CBSE International (CBSE-i) Curriculum?
With a strong emphasis on critical and creative thinking, research orientation, and effective communication, the CBSE-i curriculum places a significant emphasis on global education. With both elective and core options, it provides a wide range of courses, such as languages, performing arts, visual arts, physical education, social sciences, life skills, research projects, science, and mathematics.
In order to encourage holistic growth, the evaluation method shifts away from traditional rote learning and incorporates project-based assessments while having a continuous assessment. Additionally, the curriculum incorporates enrichment activities and regionally relevant elements, especially in the areas of science and technology.
The use of international approaches, especially those influenced by the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, is one of CBSE-i’s unique features.
To inculcate social responsibility in pupils, the curriculum incorporates cutting-edge courses like “History of Knowledge” and a required social work component.
In order to encourage holistic development, extracurricular activities including gardening, gymnastics, and performing arts are also prioritized.
CBSE-i vs CBSE regular curriculum
The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) and NCERT guidelines serve as the foundation for the traditional Indian educational method that is used in CBSE’s regular curriculum, which is taught in Indian schools. It is primarily centred on standardized board exams and is organised around the three primary academic streams of science, commerce, and humanities.
The conventional CBSE curriculum is primarily focused on Indian educational standards and competitive exams like JEE and NEET, even though it guarantees a thorough academic background. Instead of using ongoing assessments, the normal curriculum’s evaluation system mostly relies on yearly board exams.
Comparison: CBSE International vs CBSE Regular curriculum
With CBSE’s new Global Curriculum, international education may become more accessible in India. The introduction of CBSE’s Global Curriculum is anticipated to increase access to international education, especially for middle-class kids who might not be able to afford to attend pricey international schools. In India nowadays, only a select few prestigious schools connected to the Cambridge or IB boards offer international education.
Other International curriculums
IB Curriculum
One of the most well-known educational programs in the world, the International Baccalaureate curriculum is based on clear standards and holds students accountable for their work. It is highly transferable between nations and is accepted by prestigious universities worldwide.
The International Baccalaureate system, which was established in 1968 in Switzerland, is taught in over 3,000 schools in over 140 countries. Its foundation is a student-centred, expert-guided approach to education that places an emphasis on critical thinking and creativity.
Through continuous coursework, the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum evaluates students’ abilities and places an emphasis on inquiry-based learning and interdisciplinary connections.
Learn More about the International Baccalaureate Curriculum
Cambridge A Levels
For pupils 16 years of age and up, the UK offers subject-based Advanced Level qualifications (A-Levels). They typically last two years and result in credentials accepted for admission to UK and many other international higher education institutions. At least three topics are required by the majority of higher education institutions.
The curriculum emphasises in-depth topic knowledge, and external exams are the primary way student achievement is evaluated. Over 1600 schools across 101 countries used Cambridge Checkpoint tests last year to compare student success globally, according to Cambridge Tests and Assessments.
Learn more about Cambridge’s A-level here
The launch of CBSE’s global curriculum could help close the gap between traditional Indian education and international learning standards by giving kids access to an internationally aligned education.
