BMC considers changing Cambridge School affiliation to National board

The MPS LK Waghji Cambridge School in Matunga. Pic/Shadab Khan

AMID reports that the BMC's International Baccalaureate (IB) school in Vile Parle will be affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the civic body plans to switch the affiliation of its Matunga-based Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) school to a national board.

According to official sources, the school authorities held a meeting with parents on this matter last week, and a large number of them consented to the change in board affiliation. At the moment, MPS LK Waghji Cambridge School has a total of 245 students on its rolls, from senior kindergarten to nursery and from Std I to Std V. Affiliation costs and teacher availability happen to be the key concerns behind the transition.

The cost of affiliation with international boards runs into lakhs while that of central boards, such as the CBSE, is much lower. Additionally, timely training of existing teachers and ensuring they are well-versed in the curriculum were other challenges. Proposals are being sent to the education committee, after which a decision will be made.

Student enrollments

MPS LK Waghji Cambridge School, Matunga
Nursery to Senior KG90
Std I to V155

MPS Vile Parle East School
Pre-primary77
Std I to IV82

Affiliation fees paid annually by schools

CBSE: Rs 45,000 (approximately)
IB: Rs 8,82,000
IGCSE: Rs 6,00,000

Official Speak

‘The main reason behind sending your children to IB and IGCSE schools is to pave the way for studying abroad. Most parents at our schools may be enrolling their wards in city or national colleges. Only after reviewing it, we have decided that the curriculum is not entirely apt'
A senior BMC official

‘Where should students go?'

‘The bottom line is that the civic body should not have started the schools if they were unwilling to follow through. Marathi schools are being shut because student enrollment is low, while international board schools are being shut because there are inadequate teachers. Where do the students go?'
- Rohit Dandwate, Global Parents Teachers Association

2021
Year both civic-run international schools were announced