Foreign teachers may soon leave Indian classrooms

IF YOU think that McLuhan’s global village is becoming a reality and boundaries are shrinking, it’s at a huge cost. The Government of India is planning to substantially cut down on the number of foreign nationals that can be employed in Indian schools which have affiliations with different foreign national boards.

From a 50% ceiling on foreign nationals, the committee, which has been constituted by the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD), to frame a policy to regulate these international schools, is now proposing to allow such schools to hire maximum 20% of their total number of teachers from foreign countries. Any number beyond this will be allowed on proper justification on a case to case basis.

“At present, the requests for appointment of foreign teachers in schools affiliated to foreign boards in India are being considered on a case-to-case basis. Since India has a vast pool of competent teachers, allowing foreign teachers to work in India in such schools needs a clear policy,” said an MHRD official.

Over the past few years, there have been a considerable growth in the number of schools affiliated to the foreign boards in India, particularly those affiliated to International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) and Cambridge International Examination (CIE). The number of schools affiliated to IBO has grown from two in 1998 to 33 in 2006. The number of schools affiliated to CIE stood at 148 in 2006. This has forced the government to come up with a clear policy regarding these schools.

The demand for these schools have been growing because of increasing willingness in pursuing undergraduate studies from abroad. These schools also increase the potential of employment opportunities abroad as well as ease the process of transfer of students in case their parents are shifting base from one country to another.

The committee also recommends that the schools need to obtain permission from the Central government before declaring itself an international school. A standing committee, consisting of representatives of Central Board of Secondary Education, Council for Indian School Certification Examination, Council of Board of School Education, Association of Indian Universities and state governments and eminent educationalists will be constituted by the Central government to look at the applications.

This committee will stipulate conditions relating to curriculum, fee structure, facilities to be provided as well as the number of foreign teachers to be appointed in such schools. The committee will prepare a list of international boards, which can be permitted to affiliate schools in India. The schools will also be required to publish their annual reports in a prescribed manner to ensure accountability and transparency. According to the proposal, the existing schools will also have to obtain the approval of the Central government within a stipulated period.