Can educating India be Big Business?

Though India's government-run schools still account for the lion's share of students, the system is in chaos, most parents with means opt for private institutions, and even the government itself has shown a decided "privatization friendly" streak.  Could India be the first nation to outsource its education system to big business?  Maybe so, says Narayanan, chairman of the Indus World School (IWS), a chain of schools promoted and run by Career Launcher (CL).

The education sector will attract investments from large corporations who view the sector as an emerging area of business, India's Financial Chronicle quotes Narayanan as saying. “While the banking and financial sector players have taken a step or two, I see it being discussed in at least a dozen large corporate houses at this point in time. So, education will be a big play in five years including K12, higher education and vocational education,” he further said.

India's Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) has agreed to pick up a stake in Indus World Schools, and private equity firm Gaja Capital Partners is an existing investor and is co-investing in this round, the Financial Chronicle added.