Yellow Slate – Blog

Category: News

  • KKR may soon buy the EuroKids chain

    Make way for one of the largest investments in the Indian education center! KKR & Co., a giant global equity firm, is going to acquire around 92% of the EuroKids, Kangaroo Kids, and Billabong High Chains, reports suggest.

    Gaja Capital and Swiss Fund Partners Group are the existing private equity investors, owning 75% and 17% stake respectively. KKR will buy the stakes at around Rs. 1500-2000 crore, making it an unprecedented move. Promoters have the minority (8%) stake, which is expected to remain with them even after the purchase.

    EuroKids is among the largest pre-school network in India with over a thousand schools in 360 cities across the country. It was founded in 2001 by Prajodh Rajan and Vikas Phadnis. The Group operates on its own and also through franchises.

    This deal stamps the fact that the pre-school education sector in India is booming like never before. The market is currently valued at Rs. 25,000 crores. In the coming years, we can expect even more growth. KKR

    A formal announcement has not reached us yet, but we are hoping for one in the next couple of weeks.

  • Glendale Academy – From a small plot to a Great Indian School in Forbes India

    What started as a small school beside a historical landmark is now a landmark itself! We are talking about none other than Glendale Academy, which has featured in the list of Great Indian Schools in the latest Forbes India edition (July 2019). What makes this accomplishment sweeter is that it is the only school from Hyderabad to make it to the list. 

    Established in the year 2003, Glendale Academy offers CBSE and IGCSE curriculum and a perfect synergy between eastern and western cultures. The Director – Education & Co-founder, Anjum Babukhan, has spearheaded the institution from day 1, executing its vision and working towards building a platform that lets children be children.

    Glendale Academy is often referred to as a happy school because of the ambiance the management has created. Children love bustling in and exploring different aspects of learning. The school is a strong advocate of holistic growth and achieves it through the Multiple Intelligence Theory, which engages 8 intelligences that all humans possess and brings out the best in each child.

    The sprawling campus, which occupies 11.2 acres in Golkonda is easily accessible with excellent connectivity with the rest of the city. The entire building is purpose-built, keeping the growth arc of little kids in mind. You will find bright classrooms, a vast library, an amphitheater, a multi-purpose hall, an auditorium, a dining hall, and many more amenities that make children feel like they are in a world that truly cares and nurtures them. 

    This is not the first time that Glendale Academy has created a buzz and made it to the headlines. It has been recognized on multiple occasions for being a school worthy of the name. Some of its achievements include:

    • Top 50 Schools in India (2017)
    • Ranked 2nd Co-education Day School in Telangana (2017-18)
    • Ranked 14th in India’s Top 1000 Schools (2017-18)
    • Ranked 1st in Campus Infrastructure (2017)

    Thus, being featured among the Great Indian Schools in Forbes India is an incredible feat but not surprising because Glendale is a force to reckon! We congratulate the entire management and the students of the Academy on this outstanding achievement. You have put Hyderabad on the educational map with this!

  • Hong Kong firm buys Oakridge International School for Rs. 1,600 crores!

    Hong Kong firm buys Oakridge International School for Rs. 1,600 crores!

    According to an article published in The Times of India, Oakridge International School is now international even by ownership for just recently, Nord Anglia Education, a Hong Kong-based company bought it for a mind-numbing amount of money!

    The chain of Oakridge schools is not just in Hyderabad but also in Bengaluru, Mohali, and Vishakhapatnam (Vizag). Established by two ISB alumni (Y V Rajasekhar and Naga Prasad Tummala) around 20 years ago, it is one of the most sought-after and popular schools today and has been among the top 10 for quite a few years now.

    Nord Anglia Education is a well-known name in the field of education as it has over 60 schools under its belt from across the globe. It offers a personalized learning experience to school children across multiple continents but this is the first time it has entered the Indian education space.

    The two organizations signed the deal a few weeks ago, according to sources, but the communication went out only early this month. Oakridge has not commented on the deal yet but we can be sure that it has happened.

    What does this mean for Oakridge International? Can we expect even better educational infrastructure and facilities? Only time will tell.

    Source: Times of India

  • The Voice of the Parent wins – Delhi Public School slashes its fees by 50%

    The Voice of the Parent wins – Delhi Public School slashes its fees by 50%

    Since time immemorial, we haven’t seen a list of the best schools that do not have Delhi Public School in it. Here, admission seats sell like hotcakes since it is on the shortlist of almost every parent. The only perceivable downside, which has disappointed many a parent, is the fee.

    All children deserve a quality education that helps them set the path for their entire future. Is it fair that this comes at an obnoxiously high cost? This is what parents started asking the authorities of Delhi Public School, Mahendra Hills, Secunderabad.

    The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights started investigating this and also asked the District Education Officer to submit a report in December 2017. However, Delhi Public School gave in to the demands even before the report was submitted. So, for the next academic year, parents can have a huge sigh of relief. They now only have to pay less than 50% of what they were initially asked to!

    This goes to show just how powerful one’s voice can be in a democracy. We hear that parents united to oppose the fee structure and complained to the management multiple times. The action was bound to be taken! We are actually glad that the school stepped up before things took a turn for the worse.

    No matter how amazing a school may be, charging more than the recommended fee is grounds for penalization and the fact that everyone is taking this seriously shows that we are moving in the right direction as citizens and as a nation.

    What are your thoughts on this move? Do you think every school must come under the radar and explain their fee structures? Do you think most schools in Hyderabad charge too much? Please voice your opinions in the Comments section.

  • A proud, proud moment for Hyderabad – HPS ranks third in the country

    A proud, proud moment for Hyderabad – HPS ranks third in the country

    All Hyderabadis have grown up listening to the name Hyderabad Public School. One of our marvels and heritage sites, the school was established in 1923 by the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad and is now a privately funded school spread across 153 acres.
    Whether it is in academics, sports, or activities, the ICSE/ISC school has always been at the forefront, giving every other school stiff competition. From its prime location in Begumpet to the experienced faculty and the number of facilities children enjoy, every aspect of HPS is noteworthy. Thus, we are actually not surprised that it is one of the best schools in the entire country!

    According to recent rankings, the school stands 3rd in India in the Top 20 day-cum-boarding schools. Needless to say, it ranks number 1 in the state of Telangana. The rankings were awarded based on 10 parameters, which included safety, innovative teaching, infrastructure, academic reputation, hygiene, and individual attention.

    The President of HPS Society, Mr. A. Shyam Mohan, received the award in Bengaluru at the Sixth National Conference on K-12 Leadership and India School Merit Awards 2018. We are sure this is just one among its many titles and awards, and we hope it continues to stay on top.

    Are you an HPS alumnus? Share what you love about your school with us through Comments!