UK-based educational body expanding operations in India

Edexcel, UK's largest body for primary and secondary education, plans to expand its operations in India in collaboration with various schools.   

IGCSEs (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) and GCEs (General Certificate Education) are school leaving certificates like 10th and 12th standard respectively in India, which could give additional advantage for the Indian students who prefer to pursue higher studies in UK, Edexcels Regional Director,South Asia, Samiulla Baig said.  

"We are in the process to have a tieup with about 50 schools by this year end and affiliate them to offer these qualifications", he told PTI here.   

BTEC (Business And Technology Education Council), our vocational certification, would experience great growth prospects in India, he said.   

Edexcel operates in 85 countries and every year more than four million students ''are inspired'' to learn various Edexcel programmes and qualifications. It had bases in various countries including Beijing, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Colombo and Cape Town besides its headquarters in London.   

Studying Edexcel courses would make it easier for Indian students aspiring to go to UK for higher education, he said.   

"Edexcels academic examinations are conducted under tight security and answer sheets are sent to UK for correction. All students of Edexcels IGCSE and GCE A Level would be awarded certificates recognised in India as well as UK and other countries," he said.

"If a student is qualifed for any of these qualifications and if he wishes to study in the UK, obtaining entry would be easy since these courses have been approved by the UK government," Baig said.    

Students would soon find a lot of English Language, Business, IT and other programmes being launched with BTEC certification, which will help them progress into university education in the UK and other countries, he said.    

He said totally 36 subjects were covered by IGCSE curriculum in various areas including art and design.    

Each school affiliating with Edexcel would need to have well trained teachers to train the students, who take up its syllabus.  "We would be signing eight schools in south India with four schools in Chennai, one school in Bangalore and three in Kerala", he added.