Veranda K-12 expands to bring Cambridge education to Eastern India

Expansion part of the mission to add 500 new schools to Cambridge International School community throughout India

KOLKATA, 30th JULY 2024: Veranda K-12, a Veranda Learning enterprise, announced that it’s expanding its support to schools in Eastern India, starting with Kolkata, in collaboration with the International Education group at Cambridge University Press & Assessment (Cambridge). As a Cambridge Associate, Veranda K-12 helps schools understand and meet the standards required to offer Cambridge programmes and qualifications.

This collaboration aims to incorporate 500 new Indian schools into Cambridge's educational community. As Indian students increasingly seek global education opportunities, the demand for a versatile and robust educational framework meeting international standards has surged, especially in Tier 2 and Tier-3 cities. This is exemplified by Cambridge India's 2024 results, where over 18000 students for March exam series showed an 18% annual increase in demand for the Cambridge International AS & A Level.

Responding to this growing need, Cambridge plans to broaden its reach to 1,000 schools nationwide, working directly with schools and partners to deliver the Cambridge curriculum effectively, making international education more accessible to students across the country. Cambridge programmes and qualifications set a global standard for education and are recognised by universities and employers worldwide. The Cambridge Pathway curriculum is flexible, challenging and inspiring, culturally sensitive yet international in approach. Each stage shapes learners’ knowledge, understanding skills and helps prepare them for university and beyond.

Arun Rajamani, Managing Director at Cambridge University Press & Assessment, South Asia, observed, “India's educational landscape represents much potential and diversity. With a burgeoning youthful demographic, the imperative for a robust, high-quality educational infrastructure that aligns local and global standards has never been more critical. By working with Veranda K -12, we will be able to give more students across India the opportunity to follow the Cambridge Pathway. Globally we work directly and with partners to offer Cambridge programmes and qualification to schools and we will continue to work directly with schools, as well as through partners, to extend our reach beyond metropolitan cities and assist schools in seamlessly offering the Cambridge curriculum.”

Veranda K-12 will offer a range of services to schools including provision of expert teachers, comprehensive teacher training programmes, infra enhancement, developing co-curricular activities and capacity building.

Vinay Sharma, Cambridge’s new Senior Vice President for International Education in South Asia, noted, "Cambridge has undertaken significant strides in broadening the horizon of international curricula across India. Cambridge fosters higher-order thinking skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, independent research, collaboration, and presenting arguments. These transferable skills enhance lifelong learning and make education enjoyable and rewarding. They also help learners to get ready for the world. We are excited to join hands with Veranda K-12 in our mission to make international education more accessible.”

The Veranda K-12 advantage

Veranda K-12’s partnership with Cambridge will support schools through the entire process of affiliation and implementation of the Cambridge curriculum. This includes initial orientation, teacher training, continuous support, and performance monitoring to ensure schools achieve the desired educational outcomes.

Mr. Subramanyam Kantheti, CEO of Veranda K-12, expressed his enthusiasm for the venture: “We are excited to bring Cambridge’s world-class education to the eastern part of India. Our goal is to empower schools with the resources and guidance they need to deliver a transformative educational experience. By leveraging Cambridge’s robust curriculum and our expertise in educational implementation, we are confident that we can drive significant improvements in student performance and school success.” Veranda K-12 manages 5 schools, 5500 plus students, and 500 plus team members spread across South India.

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