The Delhi-based Educomp Solutions Ltd –– India’s largest ICT (instructional communication technologies) education company –– proposes to promote budget schools in small towns countrywide. To be known as Vidya Prabhat Schools, they will offer world class, affordable schooling which will blend latest innovations in education technology with traditional Indian knowledge and values.

“There is a shortage of over 200,000 schools in the country, especially in small towns and rural areas. Most tier-3 towns don’t have access to schools that offer high-quality, standardised education available to children in metros and large towns. We hope to fill this gap,” said Shantanu Prakash, the promoter-chief executive of ESL at a press conference in New Delhi on February 3. “We expect to start five Vidya Prabhat schools by July 2009, and over the next two-three years establish 100 schools through this model across India,” he added.

The first five Vidya Prabhat schools will become operational in Bazpur, Kashipur, Bahl Parav and Gadarpur in Uttarakhand. These schools will admit their first batches in July/August. Monthly tuition fees will average Rs.700 per student.