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India Today
2 days ago
- General
- India Today
WACE is first global board in India in 25 years, but can everyone benefit?
The Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) is making its debut in India, promising a global curriculum that blends academic rigour with practical already hosts several international boards, including the International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE), Edexcel, and the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), predominantly offered in elite private after nearly 25 years without a new entrant, the first government-recognised international curriculum WACE marks the latest addition to India's international schooling landscape, promising a blend of global standards with local With three campuses in India, it is set to be introduced in 100 partner schools in the coming three years, opening pathways to Ivy League universities in the US, Oxford in the UK, and the Group of Eight in Australia, without the need for IELTS or as the rollout begins, with the first three schools in Karnataka, two in Bangalore and one in the Tier II city of Bidar, questions about who will get to benefit are international programmes often associated with high fees and elite institutions, many educators and parents wonder if WACE will really bridge gaps in Indian education or simply reinforce WACE BRINGS TO INDIAWACE is more than just another foreign curriculum; it is a government-backed programme from the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) of Western to Syed Sultan Ahmed, Chairperson of The Association of International Schools of India (TAISI) and Advisor to WACE India on International Curriculum Integration, it offers 'a strong foundation in critical thinking, problem-solving, and practical skills,' aligning neatly with the National Education Policy structure promotes competency-based, inquiry-driven learning, with space for Indian history, languages, and cultural content alongside international also benefit from the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), which is recognised globally and opens direct entry into top IS GETTING IN—AND WHO IS NOT Who will get access to global education—and who won't? (AI generated image) For now, WACE's 100-school target means it will be initial adopters are mostly private schools, often with established infrastructure for international curricula. Although the inclusion of a Bidar school hints at outreach beyond Tier I cities, many of the first-phase institutions are expected to be urban and said, Ahmed insists that 'WACE has been receiving active interest from all parts of the country, especially from Tier II & III schools aspiring to switch to international curriculums.'advertisementHe adds that the aim is to make it 'accessible and affordable to learners pan India' over the next three COST FACTORInternational schooling in India often comes with tuition fees that can run into lakhs per year, limiting access to wealthier claims to be operational costs for schools are said to be 15–20% lower than other international boards, potentially bringing fees closer to those of many national says that 'WACE is designed to be the most affordable international curriculum' and can be implemented 'at a price point comparable to many national board programs.'This could, in theory, open doors for students from middle-income households, but the real test will be whether schools pass those savings on to FOR INCLUSIONOne key question is whether WACE will remain the preserve of private institutions or make its way into government and budget private schools. Ahmed says the vision is clear: 'The benefits of a globally benchmarked curriculum like WACE should not be limited to premium schools alone.'WACE's strategy includes working with state governments to introduce best practices in teacher training, student evaluation, and innovative collaboration could eventually extend WACE into public education spaces, offering world-class exposure and skill-based learning to students from rural and low-income FOR TEACHERS Teachers' training will be must for teachers teaching in WACE schools. (AI generated image) Delivering a curriculum like WACE requires a shift in teaching methods, especially in under-resourced to Ahmed, every WACE teacher must complete more than 150 hours of professional development, including in-person training, mentoring, and access to teaching exemplars and assessment tools. Continuous support through workshops and online assistance aims to ensure teachers can adapt at their own emphasis on teacher readiness could be critical if WACE expands into less privileged schools, where resources and training are often the biggest barriers to delivering international-standard IT WIDEN THE GAP?Some parents and educators worry that the programme will deepen the existing divide between elite, urban schools and rural or government rejects this view, arguing that WACE 'will now be more accessible' than other foreign boards and that its affordability makes it 'an ideal solution for schools with limited resources.'advertisementStill, the reality of the first rollout, concentrated in private institutions, suggests that the benefits will, at least initially, accrue to the already promise of inclusivity will depend on how quickly and effectively WACE can extend beyond urban centres into India's vast network of government and low-cost private schools.- Ends
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
David Adams obituary
My father, David Adams, who has died aged 80 of oesophageal cancer, was a well-known musical director, teacher and community impresario; he recently celebrated 50 years as church organist. Later in his career David played a key role in devising the musical curriculum on a national level and became an Ofsted school inspector. He also spent 20 years as the chair of Edexcel examiners for GSCE music. Born in Kirkcaldy, Fife, to Edith (nee Winter) and William Adams, a shipbuilder at Rosyth docks, by the age of 11 David was regularly playing the organ at the local congregational church and at the Methodist church, where they had a small foot pedal instrument. He attended Kirkcaldy high school and went on to study music at Edinburgh University in the 1960s, where he was awarded the Alfred Hollins Memorial Organ scholarship, and also gained a diploma from the Royal College of Music, London. In Edinburgh he met Patricia Stevenson and they married in 1966. Intending to pursue postgraduate study in church music, David and Patricia moved to Cambridge. There he joined Sawston Village college, a secondary school opened in 1930, in order to gain some practical teaching experience, and became director of music and a member of the college's senior management team. David began playing the organ at All Saints Church in Little Shelford in 1974 and was also musical director for the local community orchestra, Sawston Light Opera Group, Sawston Youth Drama and Duxford Music Workshop. He encouraged everyone to join in. His orchestras were inclusive and it did not matter if he had six flutes and two violins. He wanted everyone to be part of the music and enjoy it. He made Sawston Village college a renowned centre of musical excellence. Young students started out hesitantly, then became confident performers, with many going on to professional careers as musicians. He loved church music and in his spare time spent many hours in King's College Chapel and Ely Cathedral, especially in order to take part in his favourite service, Evensong. In his retirement David was an active Freemason and served as organist for five Masonic chapters: United Grand Lodge, Supreme Grand Chapter, Mark, Royal and Select Masters and the Red Cross of Constantine. Patricia died in 2023. David is survived by his children, Ruth, Pete and me, and his brother, Hadyn.
