Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay, in the 1830s, brought the modern school system to India and was also responsible for introducing the English Language at the school level. India has avidly believed in education for all, irrespective of gender, caste, creed, color, and religion. The ancient schooling system required students to visit Gurukuls, and the modern approach has been observing the rise of top schools equipped with the best technology and highly learned teachers. Nevertheless, India needs more competent and quality schools to ensure that students in every corner of the country are getting the best education, which will also increase the rate of literacy in the country (the current literacy rate in India is 74.04%- which includes 82.14% males and 65.46% females).

The Indian Government is responsible for supporting a majority of the schools in the country; however, there is an increasing demand for private schools. As per statistics, a whopping 99% of kids are not enrolled in any preschool, which explains the massive potential for opening up new schools. If you are looking to open a school in India and have limited or no knowledge of how to do it- here are the essential steps to get you started.

Plan

A big project requires a meticulously designed plan, and while this might be the most cumbersome, it is also highly significant. You have to plan on the teacher-student ratio, decide on the faculty's educational degrees, think of hiring lab assistants and administrators, and more. Of course, you also have to decide on the location and ensure students can easily commute. A proper plan can help you chalk out your vision in your mind- and is also the first step to starting your school. A plan is a blueprint and helps you understand how your school will operate later.

Deciding on a Budget

Once your plan is ready, the budget is what you have to decide on next. Here is a list of the minimum budget that you should have-

Playschool- INR 6-8 Lakhs
Primary School- INR 8-10 Lakhs
10+2 School- INR 2 Crores

These are average costs and can go higher if you plan to set up smart classrooms. Also, you will have to know about the capital and operational costs. Here is a breakdown of what both are-

Capital Cost

This is the major expenditure, as this involves the cost of the land on which you will build the school. Also, the capital cost involves classroom construction, furniture, laboratories, and purchasing all the necessary educational equipment to provide the best education to the students.

Operational Cost

This includes the funds to maintain the school, reward scholarships to students, provide salaries for faculty and staff, and monthly bills for water and electricity. You need to have a full-proof budget plan ready, and only after that should you get the land.

Set Up Associations with a Society or Trust

Kindergarten schools can be started as LLP, proprietorship, trust, society, or private limited company. However, schools running from standard one must be under registered trusts and societies.

Finding the Land

Before acquiring land for your school- know that- you are going to require-

A minimum of 2000 sq. ft area for the playschool.
A minimum of 7000 sq. ft area for the primary school.
A minimum of 2 acres for the senior school.

You have to get the required land size depending on the kind of school you are starting. You also need to get a No Objection Certificate from the Indian Department of Education before purchasing the land for the school. You can either purchase the lands from the agencies or lease land with an agreement of 30+ years.

Start Construction

Land finalized? Great! Well, get down to the construction of the school without further ado! Do not forget to appoint an architect to get the best and most professional design for every room in the school. When construction starts, remember to take care of the safety measures for the students. Do not miss out on the ventilation, sanitation, class aesthetics, etc.

Reach out to the Indian Education Department to receive recognition

With all the construction work completed, it is time to reach out to the Department of Education for recognition. This is significant because a school that is not recognized by the school that the Department of Indian Education does not recognize will not be the first preference for the students or their parents. Therefore, approaching the authorities to get your school recognized is a crucial step you cannot miss out on.

Recruit the Best Teaching Faculty and Staff

The faculty and the staff are the backbones of a great school. You need to recruit a qualified Principal/Head of the School and faculties with the necessary experience and qualifications to educate the students. You will also need to recruit office staff to handle official paperwork. You cannot miss out on hiring full-time helping hands who will be ready to assist the primary school and senior school students in case of medical or other emergencies.

Start the Necessary Promotions

Without the right promotional strategies, getting students will be hard. Promote the institution through newspapers, billboards, brochures, hoardings, etc. A website is always a good idea as parents will want to see how the school looks and understand the qualifications of the faculties who will be responsible for educating their kids. Also, social media is a great place to promote the school.

Pre-launch

Once the promotion looks successful, it is time to open up the school office. Start with the admission interviews and decide on the curriculum with the faculty.

Grand Opening of the School

Once you have secured the funding, built a great structure, won the required certifications, and completed the admission procedure- it is time to open up the school. Pat yourself because you have followed all the steps and have successfully opened a school in India.

Starting a school in India is a noble idea, and while it might be exhilarating, it will also be exciting. The steps above will help you build the school of your dreams, impart education to society and contribute to the country's literacy rate.

Here is a video on how Teachmint can help digitize your school with an Integrated School Platform -