Globe-trotting tots

TOI takes a peek into the world of school students bracing up for a global exposure...
She's in her eighth standard and is packing her satchel to head to the US on a six-week exchange programme. This is 12-year-old Kruti, a student of Sreenidhi International School, who represents the new generation of globe-trotting school students. Her school has a programme to countries like US, UK and Australia for class eight, nine and ten!
There are other schools that prefer to send their students to Asian countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius and Maldives.The time frame for the exchange programmes vary from a month to a year.
"Our school is sending children to Singapore on an exchange programme in October-December. The destination is cost-effective and is home to diverse ethnic groups," says B Ebenezar principal of Samhita International School.
Terms like 'blended' curriculum and 'transcultural' ventures are the buzzwords and so are international curricula like the Cambridge affiliated International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and International Baccalaureate (IB).
The need to acclimatise children to various cultures is also being felt. But how early is the question?
Shanti Koppolu, Kruti's mother feels it is good as long as the exchange programme is for, say six weeks. She feels the need to know the family where her daughter is going to be put up and get as much background information as possible. "I wouldn't want to take a chance," she says.
Dr Sridhar, a surgeon, is open to the idea of his son Abhishek going on one of the exchange programmes, but is wary about sending him out for a year. "I feel it is too early in class 8. My friend's son has enrolled in a school in Singapore after completing his class X and I feel that's perhaps the age when a child can manage himself better."
Ebenezar also says, "Child psychologists say 16-plus is the ideal age. For children aged lesser, parental supervision is crucial."
Education abroad is becoming popular among parents and students alike. 17-year-old Revanth Baddam from Oakridge International who is leaving for Cornell, US, to do his biomedical engineering after completing class 12 says, "The teaching methods there are better, although the curriculum is the same. The teaching is hands on and importance is given to research, experiments and activities."
While for some parents like S Raju, an IT professional, who is planning to enroll his daughter in the UK, the fact that the children are saved from the rat-race is the guiding reason. "Indian children studying abroad do very well. Talent is recognised and opportunities are greater."
That perhaps explains why Kanishk Sharan prefers to do his computer science in BITS, Dubai. "There is no entrance test and my class 12 marksheet sufficed for selection. It's going to cost around Rs 24 lakh for the entire course, including accommodation, fees and books. I do not have to waste a year preparing for Eamcet and in case I don't get a good rank, I would have to pay about Rs 15 lakh just for donation!"
No wonder parents and children alike looking for greener pastures abroad and no effort is spared to make the transition as smooth as possible.
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