Mumbai crowned international school capital of India

With two international school boards -- International Baccalaureate (IB) and International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) -- having set up bases in the city, Mumbai has become the international school capital of the country. The city now boasts of the largest number of international schools in the country. 

Out of a total of 65 IB schools in India, as many as 22 are located in Mumbai and 54 out 206 schools of IGCSE are in areas in and around Mumbai. Even if the number of international schools located in Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida are all put together; Mumbai would still beat them hands down with double the number.  

According to Farzana Dohadwalla, IB's South Asia representative, the reason why Mumbai is a favourite destination of international school brands is the profile of people staying there. Most of Mumbaikars are internationally mobile and keep shifting from one country to another, frequently. It is because of this factor that there is a need for international schools in the city so that continuity of education could be maintained. 

In Delhi, on the other hand, only expatriates living in the metro polis feel the need to send their wards to international schools like the American Embassy School and the British School.  

However, there is a possibility that cities like Delhi and Bangalore may outrun Mumbai in the numbers game as soon as the market in this city for more international schools saturates with not much scope left for the business. The other cities remain as islands with unexplored opportunities. 

The recession has forced many NRIs to come home and as a result the demand for international schools back here has increased, according to Vandana Lulla, principal of Podar World School.  

Ian Chambers, regional manager, South Asia for Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), said: 

"Mumbai has always been a great place for trade and people here are open to ideas from overseas. Many of them are involved in international business so they know the skill sets that are needed for the job and hence they opt for an international education for their kids,"  

Many believe, besides quality of education, the international schools have a snob value attached, which has become a status symbol these days and makes them all the more attractive.