The Hindu Business Line : B.M. Khaitan group plans to replicate Assam Valley School model

AFTER the success of the Assam Valley School in Tezpur, the Rs 2,000-crore B.M. Khaitan group plans to replicate the model in other parts of the country.

Though the programme is in an infant stage, Mr Deepak Khaitan, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of the group's flagship company Eveready Industries India Ltd, said the proposed venture would be in a corporatised manner.

"The education sector must change. It has to be more professional and there is a need for a corporate structure, which makes everyone more accountable. Our education venture will be totally corporatised. Maybe, we can have the shares of the school listed too," Mr Khaitan told reporters.

At present, no Indian school is completely run by a corporate body.

Over the last few decades, the Birlas have played a significant role in the education field, but all their schools are run by trusts.

Even the new generation school chains, which are popular pan India, are overseen by various trusts.

Founded in 1995, the Assam Valley School is now run by The Williamson Magor Education Trust.

"But one cannot keep on pumping money in a trust. There should be a decent profit motive. So, the best thing is to have a corporate body," said Mr Khaitan.

On whether school business had good prospects, Mr Khaitan said, while there was an acute shortage of schools across the country, there was an ever-increasing demand for "quality education" among the growing population.

The group hopes to set up schools in all major cities. In fact, the group has decided to set up its second school within six months, but Mr Khaitan preferred not to disclose the city.

"We are trying to prepare an extensive plan for these schools. I hope it will be ready within the next six months," he said. When asked about the funding process, he said, it would be mostly self-financing.

The residential Assam Valley School, which is spread over 45 acres, has 750 students at present.

The group has plans to start a teachers' training programme in the school.

Mr Khaitan said the upcoming schools would not be residential.

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