When private equity acquires schools, the price may be quality education

Private equity is reshaping India’s schools. A relaxed New Education Policy and rising demand for international curricula have opened the doors for global operators to buy up chains across the country.

The promise is scale, better infrastructure, and tighter governance. But the reality looks a little different—lean budgets, shrinking salary hikes, and a growing focus on cost-cutting. And the fallout? Increasing staff attrition, decreasing academic quality, and schools trading their founder-led ethos for a standardised model.

Tune in.

*Disclosure: The writer comes from a family that previously owned a school acquired partially by International Schools Partnership (ISP)

**This episode was originally published on September 16th 2025

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