International Baccalaureate: Education for the rich

International Baccalaureate (IB) as a curriculum is gaining recognition among elite parents intending to send their wards abroad for higher studies. It is gradually emerging as an alternative to conventional education with many schools in Delhi and other big cities.

"The advantages of studying in IB schools are many: Students are taught to question teachers at early level, teaching methodology is interactive and most important higher education becomes easier for IB students."

So far, India has 74 IB schools. IB curriculum is exclusive for children belong to upper middle class and the rich. It's fee structure is anytime higher then the ICSE and CBSE schools. For instance, one School charges Rs 80,000 at entry level (grade below Class V) and Rs 1, 50,000 at diploma level (Class XI and XII). This is claimed to be the minimum fee structure for any IB school in India. It has been learnt that a few IB schools in Delhi and Mumbai charge Rs 6 lakh per annum.

Will an IB Diploma student be able to appear for the entrance examinations for admission to professional courses like engineering, medicine, management, law in India?

"IB students have an edge in appearing for exams like CET, PMT, IIT, BMS, CPT and CLAT. They are better equipped due to the in-depth self-study undertaken during the IB Diploma Programme." The assessment of students is done through internal tests, projects, portfolios, commentaries and essays. Even participation in community service is assessed.

The main highlight of this curriculum is that many universities in the US award transfer credits to IB Diploma graduates. These credits could translate into saving from six months to a year during the undergraduate degree courses.

"It is difficult for us to convince parents to switchover to this curriculum," said Arpit Sharma, IB coordinator. He believes that rise in per capita income of Indians will brighten the prospects of IB schools in future.

The Association of Indian Universities recognizes the IB Diploma (Class XII) equivalent to plus two class of CBSE, ICSE and other state boards.

For IB Tutor, past years paper and guidance and assistance in Portfolio, Visit: http://www.tutorwala.com/ib_board_tutor.php

Courtsey: Shoeb Khan, TNN Feb 2, 2011

Scholarship Awareness Series 1- NTSE

National Talent Search Exam

1. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) was established by the Government of India in the year 1961 with a view to bringing about qualitative improvement in school education in the country. No sooner the Council was set up than it mounted a number of programmes in this direction. One such programme was to identify and nurture the talented students. This programme took up the shape of a scheme called National Science Talent Search Scheme (NSTSS) in the year 1963 which provided for the identification of talented students and awarding them with scholarships. During the first year of the implementation of the scheme, it was confined to the Union Territory of Delhi wherein only 10 scholarships were awarded to the Class XI students.
In the year 1964 the scheme was extended to all the states and the union territories in the country with 350 scholarships for the students of Class XI. These scholarships were awarded on the basis of a written examination, a project report and interview. The written examination comprised the Science Aptitude Test and an Essay on a given scientific theme. The candidates were to submit the project report at the time of the written examination. A stipulated number of candidates selected on the basis of these three components were then subjected to personal interview. The performance of the candidates on these four components was eventually employed for the purpose of awarding scholarships. These scholarships were awarded for pursuing education only in basic sciences up to doctoral level.
Consequent upon the introduction of 10+2+3 pattern of education, the NSTS scheme also underwent a change in the year 1976. It was no longer confined to only basic sciences but was extended to social sciences, engineering and medicine as well. It was renamed as National Talent Search Scheme (NTSS). Since the education system in the country was undergoing a change, the scheme was made open to the students of Classes X, XI and XII and separate examinations were conducted for each class. The number of scholarships was raised to 500. The selection procedure was also changed. Now the candidates were subjected to two objective type written tests namely the Mental Ability Test (MAT) and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). A stipulated number of candidates qualifying these two tests were subjected to face-to-face interview. The final awards were made on the basis of composite scores obtained in the MAT, the SAT and the interview.
The number of scholarships was again enhanced from 500 to 550 in the year 1981. These 50 scholarships were exclusively meant for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates. The number of scholarships was once again escalated to 750 in the year 1983 with a provision of 70 scholarships especially for SC/ST candidates. This arrangement continued until the scheme was decentralised in the year 1985. In the year 2000, the number of scholarships was raised from 750 to 1000 with the provision of reservation for SC and ST candidates based on the national norms of 15 per cent and 7½ per cent respectively.
Yet another change in the scheme has been made in the year 2006 wherein the NTS examination will now be held at the end of Class VIII. However, the NCERT will conduct two more examinations for Class X students in the selection year 2007 and 2008 in order to give on opportunity to those who are presently in Classes X and IX.
From the 2008 examination, a provision of 3 per cent reservation has been made for Physically Challenged (PC).

2. METAMORPHOSIS OF THE SCHEME

An experience of over two decades of the scheme brought it to the forefront that a large number of scholarships were restricted to certain pockets of the country and many areas remained unrepresentative. In the light of this, the scheme was recast in 1985.
The scheme, which until now was completely centralised, was partially decentralised and was confined to only Class X Under the new arrangement the selection of candidates for the awards became a two-tier process. The states and the union territories were entrusted with the responsibility of conducting the first tier screening examination known as State Level Talent Search Examination. Each state and union territory was to select and recommend a stipulated number (state quota) of candidates for the national level examination to be conducted for about 3000 candidates by the NCERT. The number of scholarships, however still continued to be 750 including 70 for SC/ST candidates.
The state and the union territory quota were to be computed proportionately on the basis of the student enrolment at secondary level with a minimum of 10 for a union territory and 25 for a state and a maximum of 500 for either of the two. This quota was to be reviewed every three years.
The states had complete autonomy to design and conduct their written examinations. However, they were advised to follow the national pattern which comprised MAT and SAT. The MAT, which consisted of 100 multiple choice type questions, was to be attempted by all the candidates. The SAT consisted of 25 multiple choice type questions each on
eight subject areas namely Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Civics and Economics. The candidates could choose any four out of these eight subjects and had to answer a total of 100 questions in the SAT. A stipulated number of candidates who qualified at the nationalleve1 examination were called for face-to-face interview. The award of scholarships was finally determined on the basis of the candidates' scores obtained in all the three components namely the MAT, the SAT and the Interview.
A crucial modification in the scheme was again made in the year 1995 when the provision of choice in the SAT was abolished and all the subjects were made compulsory. These subjects were Science, Social Science and Mathematics with 40, 40 and 20 questions respectively.
In the year 2000 the number of scholarships was raised from 750 to 1000.
A major change in the scheme came in 2006, The following modifications have been made in the scheme.More:http://www.tutorwala.com

The scheme has been brought down from Class X to Class VIII. The National Talent Search examination will be held at the end of Class VIII from the year 2007 onwards. The Class VIII MAT and SAT will consist of 90 questions each. SAT will have 35 questions for Social Science, 35 for Science and 20 for Mathematics. Quota for a state will be computed proportionally on the basis of student enrolment in Classes VII and VIII. The amount of scholarship has been enhanced to Rs 500/- per month for all the students studying in Class IX onwards (irrespective of the class/course) except for Ph.D., wherein it is paid as per UG9 norms.

The criterion of parental income for deciding payment of scholarship has been discontinued. Book grant has also been discontinued. From the 2008 examination, a provision of 3 per cent reservation has been made for physically challenged. The scholarships under the present scheme are awarded to the candidates for pursuing courses in sciences and social sciences up to doctoral level and in professional courses like medicine and engineering up to second-degree level subject to the fulfillment of the conditions provided in this brochure.

For NTS National Level Examination Inquiry:
Phone No :	011-26560464
E-mail :	ntse.ncert@yahoo.in
For State Level NTS Examination Enquiry : Contact the Liaison Officer of your State
For NTS Scholarship Inquiry:
Phone No :	011-26562704 (Timings 2.30 PM to 4.30 PM only)
E-mail :	ntse2@yahoo.co.in

Source: http://www.ncert.nic.in/programmes/talent_exam/index_talent.html

For More Info Visit : http://www.tutorwala.com