Indians place a lot of stress on education. English is the common language of instruction in most schools in Delhi and the level of education in India is very high—in fact, some expat parents find the emphasis on academics too rigorous. Most Indian schools follow Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) or Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) boards (both recognised by the government of India). Private Indian schools (referred to as ‘Public’, as they are in the UK) can have large class sizes and learning is often done on a rote basis.In the last few years, a number of international schools have appeared in Delhi. These schools offer state-of-the art facilities and most expats coming to Delhi opt for an international school for their children. Competition is intense and most good schools have long waiting lists. Securing a place at these schools can be difficult, with demand sometimes outstripping supply. Priority should be given to reserving a place at the school, which best meets the needs of your children, as quickly as possible. In fact, it’s best to start the application before you move to Delhi. Some parents have had issues getting their child admitted into a school mid-year, although international schools are usually more accommodating about mid-year intake. Note that some schools call themselves international schools when in fact there is nothing international about them. Schools following the international baccalaureate (IB) or Cambridge curricula are your best bet.
