GEMS plans to ramp local network

Global Education Management Systems (GEMS), the Dubai-based educational conglomerate, is working overtime to spread its network in India.

It is already managing two private schools in India catering to the upper class segment. While in the UAE, the group actually sets up its own schools, in India because of the restrictions in the education sector, it only manages schools which are promoted by others. Group chairman is Sunny Varkey, who is based in Dubai.

Shashank Nair, who is spearheading the Indian operations, is already in talks with corporates such as the Tatas, ITC, Reliance among others to set up schools which could be managed by them.

Since these talks are still in the initial stages, Nair said it would be premature to talk about these plans. GEMS, as such, has a wide presence in the Middle East and adjoining areas while it has also made foray into the UK market. Varkey said they would shortly be setting up schools in the US as well.

The group caters to various segment of the population depending upon the paying capacity of that segment. For instance, premium schools would have more facilities than mid-market schools.

"But whatever the kind of school, we d not compromise on the quality of education," Nair said.

GEMS offers total school management solutions. From project inception and planning to ongoing operations of schools, GEMS offers a total solutions approach to management of new school projects and existing schools.

The correspondent's trip to Dubai was sponsored by GEMS