Pune has long been called the Oxford of the East because of its universities, and families interested in education and schools in Pune have plenty to choose from at the school level too. Most expat parents go for an international school because their children tend to settle in faster there. Pune also has some good public and private schools, but families who pick them should be ready for cultural and language differences.
Marathi is compulsory from Class 1 to Class 10 in every school in Maharashtra, and private and international schools are no exception. Under a 2020 state law, schools must also assess students in Marathi, and the state government can fine or derecognise any school that doesn’t teach it. International schools usually teach Marathi as a second or third language. Students aren’t expected to be fluent, but they do need a basic grasp of it.
The state government can exempt individual students, and officials have said exemptions are meant for children who move to Maharashtra partway through their education. Parents of older children should ask the school whether an exemption is possible.
Savitribai Phule Pune University and Symbiosis International University are both based here, and Symbiosis has a large international student community.
Government schools in Pune
Public schools in Pune are known locally as government schools, and are run by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). PMC schools teach in Marathi, English, Urdu, or Kannada, and most are Marathi medium. English-medium places are in high demand, and expat children can apply for them, although few do.
Government schools follow the Maharashtra State Board syllabus, and students sit Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exams in Class 10 and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams in Class 12. The state government has begun replacing this syllabus with one based on the NCERT textbooks used by CBSE schools, and it plans to complete the transition by 2028. Pune also has several Kendriya Vidyalayas, which are central government schools that follow the CBSE curriculum. These schools give priority to the children of central government employees, so places for other families are scarce.
Many government schools are underfunded and short-staffed, so classes are often large. Most expat families choose a private or international school instead. Bear in mind that in India, a school with 'public school' in its name is usually private.
Useful links
- Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education
- Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan: Central Government Schools
Private schools in Pune
Expat parents who want something between a government school and an international one often look at private schools in Pune. They’re pricier than government schools, but their facilities are better. Teachers also have more time for each child. Local families make up most of the student body, so expat children experience Indian school life first-hand.
Most private schools in Pune teach in English. Some follow the Maharashtra State Board syllabus, while others prepare students for the national CBSE or ICSE exams. CBSE schools are more common across India, and their syllabus is closely aligned with the national entrance exams for engineering and medicine. ICSE has a heavier syllabus and a stronger focus on English. Universities in India and abroad recognise both qualifications.
Teachers at many private schools focus heavily on exam results and often rely on rote memorisation. Expat parents used to a more inquiry-based approach may find this at odds with their own idea of a good education, and under the National Education Policy 2020, the government wants schools to move away from this style. CBSE now sets more exam questions on how students apply what they know, but classroom habits are slow to change.
Most private schools take applications for the next academic year between September and January, and the most popular ones are often full well in advance. Contact schools as soon as your move is confirmed.
Useful links
- CBSE: Central Board of Secondary Education
- CISCE: Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations
International schools in Pune
Expat families have a good selection of international schools in Pune, and most of these teach either the International Baccalaureate (IB) or Cambridge qualifications such as the IGCSE and A-Levels. Some also teach CBSE or ICSE alongside an international programme.
A lot of schools in Pune put ‘international’ in their name but teach only CBSE or ICSE. Check each school’s website carefully, and look it up in the official IB and Cambridge directories before you apply.
Many of the best-known international schools are on the city’s western edge around Hinjewadi and Mulshi Road, and others are in the east around Kharadi and Viman Nagar. Pune’s traffic is notoriously slow, so many families choose a school first and then look for a home nearby.
Places at the most popular schools are competitive, so apply as early as you can. Schools usually ask for recent reports, and some also set entrance tests or hold interviews.
Families who want their home country’s national curriculum will usually need to look beyond Pune. Mumbai and Delhi both have schools that teach the French, German, American, and British curricula. Mumbai is the closest of the two at about 93 miles (150km) from Pune. These are day schools though, so children need to live in the city to attend.
Older teens can also board at UWC Mahindra College, which is about 25 miles (40km) west of Pune. The college teaches the IB Diploma to students in their last two years before university, and applicants go through their country’s UWC national committee or the UWC Global Selection Programme.
Useful links
- International Baccalaureate: Find an IB World School
- Cambridge International: Find a Cambridge School
Special educational needs in Pune
Parents of children with special educational needs in Pune will find that separate special schools are still common. Under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016, schools that are funded or recognised by the government are expected to provide inclusive education. The law is unevenly applied though, and many mainstream schools still don’t have trained special educators.
Pune has government-run and private special schools across the city. Some international schools have learning support teams for children with conditions such as dyslexia or ADHD, but support for more complex needs is harder to find. Share your child’s assessments with schools early, and ask exactly what help they can give before you accept a place. Special educators in India must be registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), so check a specialist’s registration before you hire one privately.
Useful links
- Ministry of Education: Inclusive Education
- Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
- Rehabilitation Council of India
Homeschooling in Pune
Some expat families opt for homeschooling in Pune. It’s a practical choice for those who want to maintain a home-country curriculum that no local school offers, and for those who would rather avoid international school fees.
Homeschooling isn’t widespread in India, but it has a following in big cities such as Pune. There’s no specific homeschooling law. Children aged 6 to 14 have a right to free education under the Right to Education Act, and India’s education ministry has said that homeschooling isn’t illegal. Parents have plenty of freedom as a result, but there’s little official guidance.
Homeschooled children can still earn recognised qualifications. The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) runs Class 10 and Class 12 exams for students outside the school system, and older children can also sit Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level exams as private candidates.
Useful links
Tutors in Pune
Tutors in Pune are easy to find, and many expat families hire one to help a child catch up with a new curriculum or get to grips with a tricky subject. Marathi tutors are in demand among families from outside Maharashtra because every child has to study the language at school. Extra sessions before big exams are common too.
Coaching classes are big business in India, and Pune has a huge number of them. Most tutors prepare students for Indian board exams and university entrance tests, so families on the IB or Cambridge track should look for tutors who are familiar with those curricula. Teachers and other parents at your child’s school are the best source of recommendations, and many tutors also advertise on online platforms.