Modern Montessori International, a Singapore-based education group is planning to expand its pre-school count in India. At present, MMI has 10 pre-school teacher training centres and five kindergartens in India. Out of these 15 centres, the only centre operated directly by them is their centre in Gurgaon, which is also their headquarters in India. The rest 14 are operated by franchisees.
Overall they are targeting opening 10 franchise centres per year or a total of 50 centres in India for the next five years. They aim to increase the pre-school teacher training and franchisees for running kindergarten classes through major corporations pertaining to the increasing demand for trained educationists in the country.
“Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai will be the starting off points for both teacher training centres and pre-schools. We feel there is a huge demand in India for trained pre-school teachers and demand for kindergartens in cities,” said T Chandroo, Chairman and CEO, Modern Montessori International. MMI offers diploma course to pre-school teachers, which qualify them to work in any kindergarten or start their own pre-school as an MMI franchise. Their overall plan is to train 1,500-2,000 pre-school teachers a year, which is double the present 750 intake.
MMI first forayed into Indian market in 2003. Its mission is to maintain the rich Montessori tradition by promoting comprehensive courses and child development services based on the Montessori method of education. MMI India operates through a 2003 joint venture with RKJ Group of Indian billionaire Ravi Jaipuria. Apart from Malaysia, Singapore and UK, MMI also operates in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, Nepal and Hong Kong.
