APS Symposium

Gray Matters Capital hosted the first ever Affordable Private School Symposium in Hyderabad on October 22nd and 23rd. Over 50 representatives attended from seven countries, including the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ghana, Kenya, India, the United Kingdom and the United States. The APS Symposium gathered donors, investors, financial institutions, thought leaders and education service providers to discuss the key issues affecting the sectors. Topics included Curriculum Tools and Technology, Government Engagement, School and Learning Assessments, Teacher Training and School Financing.

Visits to local Affordable Private Schools kicked off the event and gave students, parents and teachers a platform to query participants on ideas to improve education in India. School owners were then interviewed about the current needs and challenges they face in their schools. Professor James Tooley provided an inspirational backdrop of the global APS sector and the important role it is playing in providing education to millions.

Participants then engaged in hot debate on topics including the role of subsidies in introducing educational improvements;
how technology can improve or replace traditional teaching instruction; the parameters and timing around engaging the government in the sector; the global need for financing students and schools; the impact/importance of school ratings or school performance on investment decisions; the lack of context for APS performance; and the focus of school assessments on inputs vs. outputs.
The participants worked well together to determine the sector's SWOT and identify areas for future collaboration.

The overwhelmingly positive feedback from the event has persuaded GMC to host this symposium annually. Participants remarked that it provided a valuable opportunity to convene and discuss topics and issues with the intent of ultimately constructing a more coordinated approach to the many challenges faced.

"It was so refreshing to be in a room full of people talking the same language. We got people from around the world together and we, most usefully, highlighted how much more there needs to be done in the space." - Michael Latham, CfBT Education Trust

"Overall, it was a great conference, which served its major purpose of bringing together people from diverse backgrounds on an important and topical theme. The atmosphere was electric and wonderful, I felt." - James Tooley

Visit http://enterprisingschools.com/ in upcoming weeks to view the complete list of attendees, agreed-upon next steps in advancing the APS agenda and a podcast of the event .