Serra Pre-school eyes Pan-India operations
Serra International Pre-school has entered into a joint venture with EtonHouse International Education Group of Singapore to launch a chain of international pre-schools across India.
The Singapore-based group is well-established in Asia with 52 schools and pre-schools across Singapore, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, Vietnam, Japan and India with students from 54 different nationalities.
“We decided to invest Rs 100 crore for setting up 100 franchised international pre-schools by next year and 1000 franchised international pre-schools in the next seven years across India. Our aim is to revolutionise the early childhood education in the country by providing world-class curriculum,” Serra International Pre-Schools Chairman, Arun Arora said.
“For the next year, we want to focus our expansion plans across Pune, Mumbai, and Gujarat in the west, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Secunderabad in the South Delhi/NCR and Punjab in the north, These, we believe are some of the key markets that value high quality international pre-school education and would enthusiastically welcome an offering such as ours,” said Mr. Arora.
Pre-school education market is set to reach USD 1 billion mark by 2012 against USD 750 million at present. “The Indian pre-school market is set to become the largest in the world. In India, the pre-school segment is currently worth USD 750 million and is expected to reach USD 1 billion by 2012,” Serra International Pre-Schools Chairman, Arun Arora.
Haryana to implement RTE Act from Nov 11
The Haryana government is going to implement the Right to Education Act (RTE) in state-run schools from November 11. The RTE Act will be implemented to ensure free and compulsory education to all children in the age group of 6-14.
The government will implement the RTE Act in all state- run schools from November 11, coinciding with the birth anniversary of India first Education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
As per the Act, any cost that prevents a child from accessing school will be borne by the state which shall have the responsibility of enrolling the kid as well as ensuring attendance and completion of eight years of schooling.
GEMS Education partners with UNESCO
GEMS Education has announced partnership with The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to undertake world’s largest leadership training programme, wherein 10,000 school principals will be trained globally.
The first phase of the programme will involve India, Kenya and Ghana. Over a period of four years 10,000 school principals will be trained in these countries. In India, 3500 principals will be trained under the ‘Leadership Programme’.
In developing countries like India, there is very little or negligible training programme for school principals, which in many ways has hampered the effective delivery of education. Therefore, there is an urgent need of leadership training for principals that will help them improve their skills in school management and, thus, enabling them to innovate and offer much more effective and efficient learning at all level of education – benefitting thousands of teachers and millions of students.
GEMS Education will undertake this leadership training programme through its not-for-profit organization – The Varkey GEMS Foundation, which is established to improve access to education for 10 million underprivileged children worldwide. This initiative is part of the Varkey GEMS Foundation’s commitment to action the ‘10,000 Principals Leadership Programme’, announced by former President of United States of America Bill Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting in New York, USA, on September 22, 2011. Bill Clinton is the honorary Chair of the Varkey GEMS Foundation.
CM to distribute laptops in Assam
Tarun Gogoi, Chief Minister, Assam has announced computers and laptops for school students. Computers would be given to those students who secure 50 per cent marks in school board examinations from next year.
While addressing the Anundoram Barooah Award 2011 he said that government has all along given thrust to education because this alone can solve problems of illiteracy, poverty and unemployment.
Kalinga Institute inks MoU with Intel Technology
The Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) and Intel Technology India Private Limited have signed a MoU for promotion of literacy among tribal youth and out-of-school children, sustainable development practices among teachers and innovation among students.
The MoU intends to promote literacy among tribal youth and out-of-school children through the Intel Learn Programme with a hands-on approach to ICT learning for under-served children in the age group 8-16.
Zee Learn to set up Mount Ltera Zee Schools
Zee Learn Ltd’s K-12 vertical is targeting 400-500 schools across the country in 5-7 years under the Mount Litera Zee School banner. The schools will be set up largely through the franchisee route while a considerable number will be management contracts and owned and operated institutions.
There are currently 42 operational schools with another 70 in the pipeline. Next year Zee Learn will add 24 schools followed by 35 more the year after. Sumeet Mehta, CEO, Zee Learn stated that in terms of signing the projects, we should cross 100 schools by next month. The plan is to add 30-40 schools every year under franchise system.
Tree House Education & Accessories Ltd inducts in BSE Small Cap Index
Tree House Education and Accessories Limited, a company providing pre-school and K-12 educational services in India is now included in the BSE Small Cap Index post the latest quarterly review.
As of October 13, 2011, the scrip closed the day at Rs. 176.5 on the BSE. The scrip has posted a consistent increase over the Issue Price of Rs. 129 per share for retail investors and Rs. 135 per share for HNIs/ Institutional investors. From Friday, August 26, 2011; the equity shares of Tree House Education & Accessories Limited were listed and admitted to dealings on the Exchange in the list of ‘B’ Group of Securities.
Tree House Education & Accessories Ltd (THEAL) is the self-operated preschool education provider in India. The Company currently has 230 pre-schools of which 155 pre-schools are self-operated. The Company also provides school management service to 12 K-12 schools. The company currently employs approximately 835 teachers in its pre-schools.
Kapil Sibal calls for sustained drive for awareness on RTE
“There is a need for a sustained campaign to create awareness in every school, among those who need to be brought into school and among those who implement the Right to Education Act as to the various provisions of this Act,” stated by Shri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Human Resource Development at a meeting of State Education Ministers on the subject of community mobilization and public awareness for Right to Education (RTE). Shri Sibal expressed confidence that he would get support from the State Governments in this effort. Shri Sibal underlined that the Central and the State Government have to work together so that RTE does not falter.
Sibal outlined some of the work undertaken in the RTE in the country. Stating that 20 States have notified rules, he pointed out that in states which have not done, so it is the children who are suffering. He has also said that the teachers’ eligibility test has been undertaken and eight years academic cycle has been brought in by the states. But he emphasised on the continuing need for the Government and the civil society to carry the message that education is a right to all people. The community mobilization and public awareness programme for RTE will commence from 11th November wherein a national event will be held in Nuh in Mewat in Haryana on 11th November. Similarly, events are expected to be held in every state and district of the country on that day.
