DPS looks east

Delhi Public School (DPS) is now looking eastwards. It is planning to open four schools in Bangladesh with a local associate next year.

It is also keen on more schools in West Bengal, the chairman of Delhi Public School Society, Narendra Kumar said in Kolkata on the launch of third Delhi Public School in Kolkata at Rajarhat. The third DPS in Kolkata is a three way joint venture between DPS Society, Kanoi group and Jatia group.

Kumar said the Bangladesh venture was likely to take off in the next academic year of that country. "DPS will have three schools in Dhaka and one in Chittagong. DPS is also looking at more schools in and around Kolkata," he said.

DPS will open more branches owing to overwhelming response. The two existing DPS establishments in Kolkata have combined student strength of around 3,500.

The DPS at Rajarhat was the biggest in the region, with around 3,500 students in three phases.

The first phase will have 500 students. DPS has 2.5 lakh students at 128 schools nationally. The school will commence operation from April 2005, Kumar said. And profit from schools will be reinvested in education in the state, Kumar promised.

Kumar said DPS was willing to work with state governments on cost basis.

"DPS is willing to run municipal schools on cost basis and is closely working with Delhi, Haryana and J & K government. It could do it in West Bengal too," he added.