Page 14 - EW March 2025

Education News

MAHARASHTRA interview with your correspondent:
Magnum force K-12 venture “Our mission has always been to

make quality education accessible
to every learner, regardless of her
socio-economic background. This
collaboration agreement with the
Adani Foundation will strengthen
our reach and impact, and enable
us to provide our global education
expertise to learners and teachers in
diverse regions of India.”
This high-potential ambitious en-
terprise is being helmed by Francis
Joseph, an alumnus of Mumbai
University who previously served for
15 years in senior management posi-
tions with the transnational Ryan
International Group which has pro-
moted and manages 134 K-12 schools
in India and the Middle East, and
was appointed Executive Director of
Varkey (left) & Adani: game-changing CSR initiative. Inset: Francis Joseph GEMS Education India in 2023.
“This partnership offers us a
n what’s widely being interpreted to philanthropic causes during his unique opportunity to integrate the
as one-upmanship, Gautam lifetime. This partnership of munifi- advanced industry technologies and
IAdani, chairman of the Adani cent billionaires intends to establish skills of the Adani group with the
Group of infrastructure construc- state-of-the-art upscale English me- global K-12 schools management
tion and management companies dium K-12 schools in India with the expertise of GEMS Education in
(ports, airports, highways), ranked first one in Lucknow slated to admit our unprecedented joint venture.
India’s second wealthiest individual its first batch in July this year. It’s pertinent to note that GEMS
(net worth $63.2 billion) and among “At least 20 more” at a budgeted Education has unique experience of
the Top 25 globally by the US -based cost of Rs.2,000 crore, will become implementing and managing the syl-
Forbes business magazine, has operational during the next three labuses/curriculums of over a dozen
stolen a march over Mukesh Am- years. Globally benchmarked infra- examination boards worldwide. This
bani, ranked #1 with a net worth of structure for academic, co-curricular combination of technology and skills
$95.4 billion (Rs.839,500 crore). On and sports apart, the distinguishing and curriculum enrichment will be
the occasion of the marriage of his feature of the Adani-GEMS Schools invested in our new Adani-GEMS
son Jeet on February 7, Adani an- of Excellence is that 30 percent of Schools of Excellence,” vows Joseph
nounced an education CSR (corpo- capacity will be reserved for gifted who says he is “excited about his new
rate social responsibility) initiative of children from EWS (economically role as CEO” of this high-potential
game-changing possibility. weaker section) households who will partnership in K-12 education.
Ten days later, Adani inked an be provided free-of-charge educa- Undoubtedly by launching this
agreement with Sunny Varkey, tion. ambitious socially beneficial initia-
Chairman of the Dubai-based GEMS “This initiative reflects our com- tive in school education to celebrate
Education described by Forbes mitment to making world-class his son’s marriage, Adani is one
as “the largest operator of private education affordable and widely up in the public esteem compared
kindergarten-to-grade-12 schools in accessible. By adopting global best with Mukesh Ambani, whose lavish
the world, with a network of over 80 practices and innovative digital celebration on the marriages of his
schools in over a dozen countries”. learning through our partnership three children drew considerable
Moreover, Varkey is a billionaire with GEMS Education, we aim to adverse comment from leftists and
in his own right with a net worth equip the next generation of change- woke liberals for conspicuous con-
estimated by Forbes at $3.5 billion makers to become socially respon- sumption and epicureanism.
and among the first magnates to sible leaders of India,” said Adani in However even with the global
sign the global Giving Pledge vowing a press statement (February 17). schools management expertise of
to donate at least half his wealth Added Sunny Varkey in a brief Varkey and his sons Dino and Jay

14 EDUCATIONWORLD MARCH 2025