Defined by world-class infrastructure, IT-enabled classrooms, diverse student body, and wide range of co-curricular options, the country’s small minority of international schools have set new benchmarks in K-12 education in India India’s new genre international schools affiliated with offshore exam boards such as Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), UK, International Baccalaureate (IB), Geneva, Edexcel (UK) and Advanced Placement (USA), are the glamour segment of Indian school education. Defined by state-of-the-art infrastructure, world-class residential accommodation, IT-enabled classrooms, diverse student body and wide palette of co-curricular, sports and games options, the country’s small minority of 470 international schools — though often chastised by Left wing academics for elitism and relatively high tuition fees — have set new benchmarks in K-12 education. Since hi-end international schools were sub-divided into day, day-cum-boarding and residential institutions five years ago to avoid apples with oranges type comparisons, the CIE and IB-affiliated Dhirubhai Ambani International School (DAIS), Mumbai has dominated the international day schools league table. This year too, the 12,000-plus sample respondents polled by C fore have voted DAIS India’s #1 international day school for the fifth consecutive year, and top-ranked it on the critical parameters of academic reputation, faculty competence, leadership and special needs education among all categories (day, day-cum-boarding and residential) of international schools. In second and third positions in this year’s league table are also two Mumbai schools — Ecole Mondiale World School (#2) and Oberoi International School (OIS, #3) — which have both retained their 2016-17 ranking. The Riverside School, Ahmedabad has moved up a notch to be jointly ranked #3 this year (#4 in 2016) with OIS. Comments Nita M. Ambani, founder-chairperson of DAIS and director of Reliance Industries Ltd — India’s largest private multi-business conglomerate (annual revenue: Rs.330,000 crore): “We are absolutely delighted with our #1 ranking for the fifth year in a row. This recognition will inspire everyone in our school community to build on our legacy of accomplishments and set new benchmarks of excellence. We are also honoured by our top ranking on the parameters of academic reputation, faculty competence, leadership and special needs education — all of which significantly impact children’s learning and development. The school’s IGCSE and IB Diploma results have been consistently outstanding and our children have been excelling at national and international levels in chess, robotics, swimming and athletics, among other activities. All this is possible because of the commitment of our faculty who are constantly upgrading themselves. Moreover last year, DAIS was awarded international accreditation by the prestigious Council of International Schools and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges,” says Ambani. While there’s no change in the Top 3, further down the Top 10 league table there’s a shake-up this year. The International School of Hyderabad has moved up to #3 (#5 in 2016-17) while CHIREC International, Hyderabad has risen considerably in public esteem to be ranked #5 (7) jointly with Pathways School, Gurgaon which has moved up a notch (6). Oakridge International, Gachibowli, Hyderabad and Aditya Birla World Academy, Mumbai are…
