Kangaroo Kids has been growing into a chain of preschools with branches all over. Founder Lina Ashar talks to Payal Gulati about the changing concept of education & her innovative approach to winning big
Women entrepreneurs are leading a revolution in the world of work and have proved themselves beyond doubt in all spheres of life. One such entrepreneur is Lina Ashar, Founder, Kangaroo Kids Education (KKEL), who reinvented the education system against all odds. She is a role model to many.
THE SMALL START
In early 90s, Ashar returned India from Australia on a year-long sabbatical from college. Armed with a teaching degree from Australia, she landed up with a teaching job in Mumbai. Ashar realized that the Indian students lack imagination and creativity, when compared to the international students. Having made that revelation, she decided to change the antiquated approach to education that existed then by setting up a preschool, which would focus on the overall development of the child. She started her first venture in 1993 by opening Kangaroo Kids preschool in Mumbai.
What started off as one preschool with an initial capacity of 25 students has grown into a chain of preschools with branches across cities in India, Dubai, Maldives and Qatar. However, the journey was not easy for her. Recalling the initial challenges, she says, “In 1993, there was basic infrastructure challenge to set up a preschool. Also, there were corruption issues in the country.” A lot of effort and work went into changing the parents’ attitude towards education. Parents’ advocacies and convincing school principals about the teaching and testing procedures beyond rote learning were some of the issues she had to address initially.
When parents saw results they were convinced that this system works. Hence, Billabong High was born in response to the demands of parents, to take their children onward all through their schooling years with the same philosophy of learning that was imparted in Kangaroo Kids Preschools. Billabong High is, therefore, a natural and seamless progression into higher schooling and is based on the same philosophy and pedagogy (research-driven, brain-compatible education).
THE EDUCATION PHILOSOPHY
“I have never looked at what a customer wants. In sectors like education, one has to explore what is right for the children and their learning. A subject cannot be taught in isolation, without relating it to the world outside the classroom,” believes Ashar.
Education at the Kangaroo Kids schools is activity and experience-based, which focuses on the overall development of the child. She further mentions that in India the definition of success is narrow, which is about power, prestige and money. “At KKEL, we try to instil a different mindset in the child. We will do what is developmentally correct for the child, and the effects could be witnessed in the long run,” she says.
“I would say don’t get into education unless it interests you. You need to be passionate about it. Also it needs a lot of perseverance that unless you are passionate about the outcome, you won’t be able to make it. Make sure you get enough advice and learn from people in the same space. Sharing her advice on funding, she says, “Private equity funding should be the last call; rather opt for high net worth individual funding. PE funding should be opted only when you have formal exit strategy.”
SCALING UP WITH PARTNERS
Kangaroo Kids is betting big on the franchise model for expansion. Sharing the franchisees’ contribution, she says, “Overall 30 per cent of our growth comes from franchisees. Most of the franchises were opened by the parents with the ‘Kangaroo experience’. Around 90 per cent of our schools are run by women entrepreneurs and rest 10 per cent by men,” she adds.
“The reason for our success has been our franchise partners who believed in our system and have been with us for the past 20 years. Our initial partners were people who had passion and recognized that their purpose was to make a mark through providing education to children with a difference,” she adds.
“We at KKEL believe in providing complete support to our franchisees right from the time they sign in with us. We have a team that handles new schools and preschools and they provide support in selecting the right location, design and set up, all assistance required to launch the preschool, training for partners and staff, curriculum and training on how to execute the same, marketing support required for admissions, safety security measures and academic support.”
“Currently, we have 100 centres. The expansion would be opportunity-led. We are opening one centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this September,” she shares.
THE UNSTOPPABLES
Kangaroo Kids’ experience and immense faith in its founder Lina Ashar’s vision have made many parents believe in the concept of education and turned into franchisees. Here is what they have to say about their experience and learning with KKEL.
ENTREPRENEUR BY CHANCE
Samina Najam from Bhopal started her journey with KKEL around 15 years ago. “Hard work, perseverance and immense faith in Lina’s vision and philosophy facilitated to cross all obstacles,” she says. A naïve who wanted to become a contributor took a plunge into an unknown zone with honest intentions and passion for children which eventually turned out to be so-called business though education can and should never be treated as business as its core purpose. Being a teacher and an accidental entrepreneur, she wishes to lead a purposeful life touching human souls, especially children and justify her existence on this planet.
A VISIONARY
Lama Alhammad, Riyadh, noticed that Kangaroo Kids strikes a balance in studies and personality development. “I am creating a holistic environment for kids to thrive and prepare them for the future.”
MIXED JOURNEY
Chandrika Chalasani, Hyderabad, didn’t imagine that running a school and working with kids would change her life. “It’s been 15 years and the journey so far has been fun, challenging, engaging, enriching.”
AN EXCITING TRIP
Jasmine Gandhi, Noida, who started in 2005 with few kids, now has over 1,000. “We set up a centre with special need called Sanchetna, within the same campus,” she says.
WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE
Malika Varma, Kolkata, started Kangaroo Kids with 40 kids, and now, it has 150 students. “The kindergarten follows an excellent curriculum, its New Alipore branch is reputed for its extra-curriculum activities as well,” she says
A GREAT BELIEVER
Anita J. Dewoolkar, Andheri, recognized the need for quality educational institute with international standard, she took the onus on herself. Thus, the foundation was laid.
A PROUD OWNER
Reshma Kukreja, a franchise partner of Chembur and Ghatkopar centres, got impressed with the Gymbaroo toddlers club’s curriculum as her kids went there.
TRANSFORMING THE LEARNING QUOTIENT
Priyanka Goenka, Trustee, Board Member, Thane, says: “KKEL & Billabong High have ushered in a transformation in the teaching learning quotient.”
SPREADING WINGS
Saanika Gandhi from Dubai believes that getting associated with KKEL is the best decision of her life. “It has been a privilege to be associated with KKEL and team, who share a common passion.”
DREAM INTO REALITY
Chitra Kannan, Chennai, has a strong aptitude for developing the direction and strategy of the KKEL brand and she never turns down the opportunity to participate in its creative aspects. “With an inspiration to give best nothing has stopped me in turning Lina’s dream into reality of sparking human greatness in every single child by discovering and then nurturing each child’s unique gift,” she says
FOLLOWING THE PASSION
Asma Yasir Nainar from Chennai, a dynamic and thoughtful education entrepreneur, followed her passion for education by setting up the Kangaroo Kids Nursery in Doha, Qatar. Through this brief stint, she made herself aware of all the administrative and behind the scenes work. Currently, she is setting up the BHIS, which is one of the first weekly residential schools in Chennai.
JOINING THE DOTS
For Arpita Malpani from Jabalpur, her love for children and aspiration to see them learn and grow restrained her from stepping the ambition ladder. And today, after hard work, perseverance, innovation and cohesion, an invincible educational infrastructure has been set up under the names of Kangaroo Kids and Billabong High International School.
PARENTS TURNING ENTREPRENEUR
With over two decades of experience in early childhood and primary education and a mother of two Billabongers, helped position Kangaroo Kids as the benchmark preschool in the vicinity if not beyond, says Radhika Nanda from Kandival. Kusum Kanwar started her journey with KKEL as a parent, where she got introduced to the school’s methodology. “When an opportunity to uphold and turnaround Kangaroo Kids as a franchise owner came, I took it as the spirit of entrepreneurship sparked,” she says.
CREATING A NICHE
Sunitha Rani from Saket, Delhi, says: “Inclusive education is one of the principles on which I started my journey. I started my first school in 1995 and today I am a director of four schools.”
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Avani Dalmia, Director, Kangaroo Kids, Surat (Dalmia Educations), says: “My innate urge and passion to do something worthwhile led me to Kangaroo Kids. To be associated with this brand has renewed my self-confidence. I think the most courageous thing a woman can ever do is to start thinking her own. It is all about being herself!”
ACHIEVER DUO
Priti Agarwal, Kanpur, began her journey with KKEL as a parent in Mumbai. The scientifically engaging, dynamic and ever evolving curriculum with best teaching practices encouraged her to seek a franchise and establish a K-12 school in Kanpur.
Kirti Agarwal Pasbola from Kanpur, says: “I started with 20 students and today we have three branches.”
PROUD PARTNERS
Mahek Kakwani and Priya Kakwani from Rewa started their journey with KKEL in 2015. “The journey has been a rewarding one. The quality standards set by Billabong make our work culture unique and special. The KKEL team has provided us a constant support and handhold to work towards a common goal - quality education for everyone!”
A DILIGENT LEADER
Ganga from Tiruttani, says: “We at BHIS believe that academic learning is effective when it is based upon active learning experiences, creative problem-solving and critical thinking. My goal is to work diligently with parents, faculty and students to cultivate an atmosphere characterized by the highest level of academic excellence, trust, respect, and open lines of communication.”
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