'International Baccalaureate schools in India grew from 11 to 245, reached non-metro cities'

By Mahesh Balakrishnan

The growth of the International Baccalaureate (IB) in India is indeed impressive! The expansion from 11 schools in 2003 to 245 in 2025 highlights the increasing demand for quality education across the country, including in non-metro towns. This growth aligns with India's rising prosperity and the evolving educational needs of its communities.

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has played a significant role in this shift, promoting innovative teaching and learning methods that resonate with the IB's inquiry-based approach.

The four IB programmes — Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), Diploma Programme (IBDP), and Career-related Programme (IBCP) — provide a well-rounded education for students aged 3-19.

IB curriculum, schools

The rise of IBCP schools, focusing on career-related studies, adds a practical dimension to education. The World Academy of Career Programmes offering courses in Business Administration, Artificial Intelligence, and other fields is a testament to this adaptability.

Also read IGCSE Board: Cambridge schools doubled in India over the past decade, writes senior VP

The adoption of the PYP by Early Year Centres across India has also contributed to the IB's growth. Celebrating 50 years in India, Kodai International School offered the IBDP in 1976. The recognition of IB MYP, DP, and CP as equivalent to grade 10 and grade 12 qualifications has helped students’ progress to both local and international universities, debunking the myth that the IB is only for those planning to study abroad.

IB schools provide a robust framework for schools aligning themselves with either the national curriculum framework or an international curriculum which serves the needs of the community. Teachers need to undergo IB’s Professional Development workshops ,supported by programme networks and other platforms available to schools to build a robust delivery mechanism.

India's attractiveness as a destination for overseas universities to set up campuses further supports this trend. Many new schools aim to become IB continuum schools, offering three or more programmes. The popularity of the May exam sessions among schools in India is another indicator of the IB's growing influence.

Also read For Cambridge IGCSE, India is one of the fastest growing markets: Group MD

Asia is now home to the fastest growing International school market and rise of the multi campus as well as strong brand recognition has led to robust growth of the school market and players entering new countries. Since 2022,leading international players have entered the Indian market looking at the opportunities in the K-12 market space.

Mahesh Balakrishnan is director, Human Touch Singapore, a global education consultancy and works with International Baccalaureate in South Asia.

This piece first appeared in the 200th issue of the Careers360 magazine, published in August, 2025