Preparatory schools thrive on IIM rush

A rising demand for management education has led to mushrooming of management test preparing institutes, in terms of size and activities.

A look at the four national players in the field "" Triumphant Institute of Management Education (T.I.M.E.), PT Education, IMS and Career Launcher "" reveals the growth pattern that changed these institutes into full-fledged education companies.

T.I.M.E.'s annual turnover recently crossed the Rs 100-crore mark. It is now planning to launch a chain of schools across the country which will be affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

Schools in Hyderabad and Kochi are expected to be operational from the 2009 academic session. Apart from these cities, it is also looking at a number of B and C category cities to start its schools. With such initiatives, it aims to cross Rs 600-crore mark by 2012.

Career Launcher, presently a Rs 90 crore company, ventured into schools a year back. The two schools at Hyderabad and Indore, affiliated to CBSE, are in their second academic year. The firm is in the process of opening play schools by the name of Ananda across the country.

It has entered into an agreement with US-based Veritas Test Preparing Institute, which specialises in training pupils for Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), to start a separate batch for GMAT aspirants. Career Launcher is looking aiming to cross Rs 500-crore mark by 2012.

PT Education, a Rs 40 crore company, also plans to cross the 200-crore mark by the end of 2012. It has introduced various personality development courses by the name of "Persona." The programme is customised for working executives, house wives, schoolgoers and others.

"Besides this, we have a programmes called "Login" for MCA (Masters in Computer Application) aspirants and "Take-off" for school-leaving students needing guidance in career-planning and selection," said Sandeep Manudhane, chief managing director and founder, PT Education.

To address the problem of shortage of skilled workforce in the country, IMS has started a programme called "ProSchool".

The course imparts key skills for entry level jobs across sectors like finance, retail and others. We have already trained over 2000 students in financial planning, which is an emerging segment in the financial sector," said Sanjay Chaudhary, chief operating officer, IMS.

"Today, the levels of awareness among people are phenomenal. Everyone's aspiration is higher than the people of the previous generation. Therefore, in a market where demand is rising and entry barriers are close to zero, there is bound to be expansion," said Manek Daruvala, director, T.I.M.E.

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Flourishing business

T.I.M.E. to launch a chain of schools, affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education

T.I.M.E. aims to cross Rs 600-crore mark by 2012

Career Launcher to open play schools by the name of Ananda across the country

The company has tied up with US-based Veritas Test Preparing Institute to start a separate batch for GMAT aspirants

PT Education, a Rs 40 crore company, also plans to cross the Rs 200-crore mark by the end of 2012

IMS has started a programme called "ProSchool", to train people for entry level jobs across sectors like finance and retail