Education In A Globalised World

Online, October 21, 2010 (Newswire.com) - The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), representing 292 high schools across USA, UK and Canada, also known as "preparatory schools" announced their plans to target Indian students aggressively at a press conference today. TABS is organising their Annual Asia Education Fair in Mumbai on November 14, 2010 at the Trident Hotel from 2:00 - 5:00 pm. This event will provide prospective students an opportunity to interact directly with representatives from the college preparatory boarding schools.

These "prep" schools prepare the students for Top Universities, Ivy League and other prestigious colleges and equips them with necessary skills to deal with life's challenges. The high-schools (9th-12th standards) focus on extra curricular activities as much as on academics to churn out well-rounded students. Said Steve Banks, Director, Operations, TABS, "What these preparatory boarding schools with multi cultural, multi-national student community aim at is to prepare students for the best colleges and universities of the world that will truly produce global leaders."

Acknowledging the high educational standards of many Indian schools, Mr Banks said, "The quality of students who go to colleges and universities of the US is pretty good. According to the most recent data provided by the Institute of International Education (IIE), India has retained the top position for being the source of international students to the United States. In the academic year 2008/09 the number of Indians studying in the US is 103,260, representing 15% of the total number of international students in the United States. Since 2001/02, India is the leading sending country of international students to the US."

"In a multi-polar world, India is emerging as a nexus of world power and influence. One key driver, is the quality of the top Indian universities. In stark contrast to China, India showcases the widespread learning and use of English, which has become the de facto world language for science, technology, and commerce," he said. Analysing the profile of next generation of leaders, Mr. Banks listed six attributes of the global leaders the world will require in the coming decades: Analytical skill, Imagination, Resourcefulness, Cosmopolitanism, Communication mastery, and Integrity.

"Boarding schools are uniquely capable of cultivating the habits of mind, the cornerstones of character, and the indispensable interpersonal skills the next generation will need to flourish. U.S. and Canadian boarding schools are at the forefront of the sector, and best positioned to graduate the analytical, imaginative, resourceful, cosmopolitan, inspirational, and ethical leaders required by the rapidly changing world," he added.

In the past few years, India has seen a surge of IB schools opening the doors to education in the country. Although these schools provide high quality academic education, they fall short on various facilities due to space constraints. Banks explained, "The genius of Indian students is well-known worldwide. Education is going through a revolution in India. We seek this opportunity and wish to attract intelligent students from across the country to study in boarding schools abroad."

While cost of sending students to these schools is high, it is also true that the cost of studies in many of the recent schools in India is quite comparable. The fees of these schools are only marginally higher than most IB schools present in India today. In a recent comparative study conducted by a leading education consulting firm, the cost of study in some of the international schools in Mumbai was found to be just marginally short of the costs incurred in boarding schools in the US. The annual cost of tuition fees and additional Cost (Living Expenses, Excursions, Books, Music / Sport classes / Tutorials, etc.) in city based schools ranged between USD 23000 to USD 31000 while that of studying in one of the TABS schools varied from USD 30,000 to USD 50,000. "If one accounts for opportunity costs of international exposure, super infrastructure, diverse student communities, multi-cultural assimilation opportunities, independence, etc. - the cost difference, at best will only be maginal," the study claims. Adds Rishi Dalal, alumni of TAFT school, Connecticut, "The well-rounded experience the school provides is beyond cost comparisons and I would love to relive those years again."

This is the first year this fair will be in Mumbai where over 40 schools are participating. TABS aims to take this fair to other cities across India the following year.