3 Essential Factors for Returning NRIs to Choose the Right School | Expert Interview
An expert interview with Dr. Konal Reddy, founder of Manchester Global School Hyderabad and former Deputy Vice Chancellor in UK. Deep dive into CBSE vs IB differences, what makes a great school, grade placement for kids from abroad, and OCI documentation requirements.
3 Essential Factors for Returning NRIs to Choose the Right School
An in-depth conversation with Dr. Konal Reddy, founder of Manchester Global School Hyderabad. After a distinguished career in UK higher education—including as Deputy Vice Chancellor at University of Bolton and receiving an MBE—he returned to India to reimagine K-12 education by blending global standards with Indian values.
Key Insights from This Interview
- Deep dive into CBSE vs IB—how curriculum delivery actually differs
- IB success rate at Ivy League: 5.5-6% vs 3% overall
- 3 essential factors: Great teachers, holistic development, core values
- Grade placement when moving from UK/US to India
- OCI documentation and Aadhaar requirements
Indian Curriculum Landscape
India is home for a vast range of curricula. Some parents and NRIs already know because they are widely taught in India. There are certain curricula people don't even know.
Available Curricula in India
| Curriculum | Description |
|---|---|
| State Curricula | Every state (Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal) has their own curricula in local languages and English |
| CBSE | Pan-Indian curriculum developed by Government of India. Created so people who move across India (bank employees, army, central government) have consistent education |
| IB (International Baccalaureate) | Started in Switzerland, widely recognized globally and in India |
| Cambridge/IGCSE | UK curriculum marketed globally by Cambridge University. Synonymous terms: Cambridge, IGCSE, UK curricula |
Important: It's really important for parents to understand the deeper aspects of what is the right fit for them. If you pick a curriculum because your friend told you or somebody said this is good or bad—without analyzing your needs—you may make the wrong choice.
CBSE: Structured & In-Depth
CBSE as a curriculum is very structured and organized.
How CBSE Works (9th Class Science Example)
9th class CBSE science has a textbook with 12-14 chapters—very organized: human body, atomic structure, magnetism, electricity, and so on.
- The CBSE board defines 100% of the curriculum and releases a textbook
- Nobody can change that curriculum
- Teachers prepare from the textbook—definitions, theory, experiments, questions
- Students have the same textbook across India
- Parents know exactly where their child is: "50-60% of syllabus is finished"
đź’ˇ Key Insight
If a teacher teaches well and a student reads the whole science book very well, they can get 100 out of 100. They don't need to go anything beyond the textbook to score full marks.
That's the philosophy: structured, organized, well-defined boundaries.
CBSE Advantages
- Depth of subject knowledge is pretty good
- Plenty of teachers who can teach CBSE
- Theory focus is quite high
- Students are well geared up for IIT-JEE, NEET, and other entrance exams
Note: I'm not suggesting CBSE guarantees an IIT seat. Millions study CBSE but that doesn't guarantee it. However, they are better geared up for those entrance exams.
IB: Broad & Application-Oriented
The IB curriculum is very broad-based, much more application-oriented, and tries to inculcate holistic development in children in addition to good subject knowledge.
How IB Works (9th Grade Science Example)
IB board defines very broadly what should be taught at 9th grade (Middle Years Program)—electricity, magnetism, human body, environmental sciences.
But it doesn't release a book. There's no official "this is the 9th grade science book for IB."
- Teachers must refer to several books and online material
- They prepare lesson plans taking current developments into account
- Students explore topics like: coal-based electricity vs clean energy, pollution, cost efficiency
- Students present and discuss in class
The Key Difference
Breadth vs Depth:
- IB: Breadth of subject understanding is significantly more
- CBSE: Depth of science itself is more
That's the core difference in curricular delivery.
Teacher Quality is Critical for IB
Teachers delivering IB curriculum must be very well trained because:
- They should have the ability to do their own research
- Develop lesson plans and customize delivery
- The curriculum delivery is much more dynamic
That's why the quality of the teacher and school is much more important for IB schools relative to CBSE.
Parent Experience: If your IB child comes home and you ask "what's happening in science?"—they won't say "60% curriculum is finished." They'll say "we're working on electricity as a concept." It can feel more vague because it's much more dynamic.
Entrance Exams & University Admissions
For Indian Entrance Exams (IIT-JEE, NEET)
CBSE students have a slight advantage because entrance exams are predominantly based on CBSE curriculum.
Cambridge/IGCSE is similar in structure to CBSE but the syllabus is significantly different (developed in UK). Students need extra preparation.
IB students can also crack these exams—there are hundreds of examples—but they need to work harder.
⚠️ IB Students Wanting Medicine in India
In IB, mathematics is compulsory regardless of what you want to study.
For medicine in India, you need physics, chemistry, and biology. Since math is already compulsory in IB, students wanting medicine must take math plus three sciences.
This is unique to India—worldwide, universities don't require physics for medical students, but India does.
đź“Š IB Success at Top Global Universities
At Ivy League universities (Harvard, MIT, UCLA) and top UK universities (Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Imperial College):
- Overall success rate of all applicants: ~3%
- IB students alone: 5.5% to 6%
This data over the last 10-15 years shows IB students have a significant advantage for top global universities.
Private Universities in India
A huge number of good quality private/autonomous universities have come up which don't go through the general entrance exam route. They can recruit students directly.
Examples: Symbiosis, BITS, Mahindra University, Ashoka University, VIT, and many more.
For IB/Cambridge students, the vast majority easily qualify for entrance exams. The challenge is getting very high ranks for IIT seats or free government college seats.
3 Essential Factors for School Selection
As an educationalist, quality comes first. Here are the three factors I would highlight:
World-Class Education with Great Teachers
Without great teachers, you can't deliver good quality education. Full stop.
Doesn't matter how big the campus is, what they're saying, what kind of franchise, what kind of curriculum.
Look for how well the leadership team is geared to:
- Identify great teachers
- Retain them on a long-term basis (not just recruit)
Holistic Development of the Child
Every school's brochure says "holistic development." But ask them: How are you going to achieve it?
What holistic development means:
- Communication skills
- How to influence people
- How to be resilient
- How to take pressures of life
- Financial literacy
- Being a lifelong learner
Infrastructure matters: 90% of schools in Hyderabad or across India do not have 100 square yards of playground. How are they going to achieve holistic development?
60-70% of holistic development happens outside the classroom. You fall down on the ground, somebody pushes you, someone holds your hand, you work as a team on the playground—these experiences build resilience and confidence.
Core Values
In addition to subject knowledge and overall development, focus on core values:
- Believing in hard work
- Long-term commitment to something—whether subject, relationships, or anything in life
- Respect for parents and teachers
India has produced great businessmen, great technologists, great CEOs—Satya Nadella, Sundar Pichai. They grew up with a mindset of working hard, having loyalty to technology, company, whatever.
Unfortunately, we're slowly losing those core values. That's what got India where it is today in the last 20-30 years. We should not lose them.
A Sobering Fact: 90 years ago, before independence, India produced four Science Nobel laureates. We haven't produced a single homegrown Science Nobel since independence—90 years, 1.4 billion people. Why? Because the schooling system got into short-term entrance exams, ranks, IIT, IIM, HSBC London, "3 crore package"—not pioneers, path breakers, leaders, entrepreneurs.
Transition Tips for NRI Families
Grade Placement: UK to India
This is a technical aspect many parents and schools don't know.
In the UK system: Students are one year ahead until 9th grade because they study 10th grade (GCSE) for two years.
Example: If your child finished 8th grade in UK and you're moving to India, logically you'd think they go to 9th grade. But that's not the case.
- They are one year ahead because UK 10th grade is two years
- In India, there's no two-year 10th grade
- They may need to repeat 8th grade in India
Why this matters: If your child finishes 12th at age 16 instead of 18, most UK/US universities don't allow 16-year-olds without special measures—they can't travel alone, can't stay in normal halls of residence.
Undergraduate Choice Matters
Your undergraduate choice influences curriculum selection:
| If Your Plan Is... | Consider... |
|---|---|
| Medicine in India (100% decided) | CBSE may be better (three sciences without math requirement) |
| Going back to US/UK for undergraduate | IB is well-geared for global universities |
| Engineering, business, computing in India | Both work—IB students easily qualify for entrance exams |
Be open-minded: Don't have the impression that IB students must go abroad. Around 30-40% of IB students study undergraduate degrees in India, and 60%+ go abroad.
Look for School Ecosystem
When evaluating schools, check if they have systems in place for:
- IELTS coaching (for UK universities)
- SAT coaching (for US universities)
- Advisory services from 10th grade on subject choices
- University application guidance
This has to happen quite early—before they choose 11th grade subjects.
Documentation & Aadhaar for OCI Students
Required Documents
- Parents' passport copies
- Children's passport copies
- OCI card
- End-of-year report from previous school (serves as Transfer Certificate)
⚠️ Important: Get End-of-Year Report
The end-of-year report from your previous school is crucial. It should include:
- Grades
- Date of leaving
- Completion status
This is considered as your TC (Transfer Certificate) in India.
If Leaving UK Early
If you're leaving UK before the academic year ends (e.g., July first week to start Indian school in July):
- Get an interim report stating the child is leaving early for admission to Indian school
- Have your admission letter from the Indian school
- This prevents issues at the airport—UK can fine parents for removing children during school time
With both documents, authorities understand the child is moving to study in India, not skipping classes.
Aadhaar Card
Schools generally provide flexibility for Aadhaar:
- Admission is given, students start attending classes
- Aadhaar application can be done in parallel
- Takes about 3 months to get Aadhaar
- Some schools organize workshops to help with the application process
Eventually, Aadhaar is required, but schools accommodate the waiting period.
Summary
Key Takeaways
- CBSE: Structured, in-depth, better for Indian entrance exams
- IB: Broad, application-oriented, better for global universities
- Teacher quality is the #1 factor—especially critical for IB
- Look for holistic development infrastructure—playgrounds, sports, activities
- Core values matter—hard work, commitment, respect
- Check grade placement carefully when moving from UK/US
- Get end-of-year report before leaving your current country
Connect with Other NRI Parents
Get recommendations on schools, share experiences, and learn from parents who have already navigated this process in different cities.
Planning Your Move to India?
Get comprehensive guidance on school selection, city choices, and the entire transition process for your family.
Have questions about specific schools or curricula? Drop them in the comments!
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