क्यों कुछ माता-पिता ऐसे स्कूलों को पसंद करते हैं जहाँ 100 से कम छात्र हैं

It caught the attention of inquisitive parents, leading them to Priyanka Rai and Sai Gaddam. They had recently relocated to Mumbai and were in search of different educational options for their children. As they conversed with other interested parents, the concept of a learning pod, where a small group of children learns together, evolved into something larger yet sufficiently compact to meet their requirements: Comini Microschool.

“Our aim was to establish a local school rather than a grand building. We envisioned a place where parents could feel assured enough to withdraw their children from conventional schools and explore community-driven education,” states Rai, who holds a diploma in early education and co-founded the school with her husband, an expert in neuroscience and technology, in February 2022. Their inspiration stemmed from Finland’s educational system, renowned for its focus on play and individualized learning.

Occupying a cheerful 1,500 sq. ft space filled with sunlight, Comini resembles a home more than a traditional school. This was intentional. From 9 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon, five facilitators guide 25 children through a combination of structured sessions and a schedule rich in free play and spontaneous interactions.

For instance, on a sunny Friday morning in February, three girls aged between 6 and 9 were engrossed in creating a puppet show, complete with handmade tickets. Others were absorbed in books under the guidance of a facilitator in a cozy reading nook. Meanwhile, another group had gone on an overnight trip to a farm. For Rai and Gaddam, Comini embodies this type of adaptability, allowing children to freely explore their creative interests.

In recent years, the micro school trend has gained traction in India, inspired by international models like Aspen Learning Lab and Learnlife. With a growing number of parents seeking alternatives to conventional and international schools, there is an increasing demand for more personalized and flexible learning environments.

The National Microschooling Center in the United States, where this model has been rapidly proliferating, reports that over 95,000 micro schools serve approximately 1.5 million students. While specific data on micro schools in India is limited, reports from the Central Square Foundation indicate that the market for private education has been expanding. Nearly half of all students in India are currently enrolled in private institutions, a rise from 30% in 1993. Market research firm IMARC estimates that the Indian school sector was worth $54.2 billion in 2024, with 1.55 million K-12 schools catering to 218 million students.

According to Rai, the pandemic acted as a turning point for micro schools. “Numerous parents switched to this model after being taken aback by what they witnessed during online schooling,” she observes.

Though the term continues to evolve, a micro school is generally defined as a private learning institution with 50 to 100 students. These schools are often led by a mix of professionals and community members, and their unique selling point is a low educator-to-student ratio, usually between 1:5 and 1:10, enabling adaptive learning. Educators prefer utilizing online resources, modules, and curated reference materials instead of relying solely on textbooks to craft their curriculum.

The fee structure for these institutions ranges from ₹2 to ₹3.5 lakh annually. This range is lower than that of many larger private schools because micro schools typically do not have the same infrastructure, which helps minimize their operating costs. Additionally, they are not recognized by any governmental body or educational board in India, placing them in an unregulated domain without clear policies.

“While we cannot register as a school due to specific infrastructural requirements, micro schools need to be registered entities to maintain transparency in finances and taxes,” explains Poornima V., co-founder of Agile Shaala, which operates micro schools in Mysuru and Bengaluru.

Micro schools function under various structures—some are registered as non-profits, while others operate as private limited companies. Some even classify themselves under the homeschooling category, although formal certification for homeschools is also absent. “This is a grey area. However, in the US, certain states have established guidelines for homeschooling,” she adds.

Learning progress is monitored through ongoing assessments aligned with the Cambridge IGCSE curriculum, and parents receive documentation of their child’s advancement. Students set their own learning objectives, becoming independent learners and have the option to take exams at grade 10 and 12 through IGCSE or the National Institute of Open Schooling.

For educationalist Lina Asher, who previously founded Kangaroo Kids and Billabong High, initiating the Dreamtime Learning Hub in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad was a deliberate choice to move away from traditional education. Situated in a bungalow with a distinct red-sloped roof, the Hub features colorful learning zones and wooden benches scattered across the lawn.

The curriculum here is highly personalized, with grades divided in an innovative manner. For instance, in the ‘Foundational Fantasy’ program, children aged 3-6 are categorized into groups like wanderers, magicians, explorers, and discoverers. In the elementary years, students can adopt identities such as adventurers, incredibles, avatars, or transformers.

“Smaller schools allow for experimentation with various elements without the scheduling challenges of larger institutions. Consequently, students can study subjects from grades above or below their current level based on their abilities and pace,” explains Asher.

“Instead of comparing students against one another, we motivate them to compete with themselves while equally valuing social-emotional and physical well-being,” she elaborates.

Micro schools also provide teachers the chance to offer a new generation of children the type of education they themselves missed. In Bengaluru, the Norwegian-style Papagoya Micro-School was founded by Helen Issar, who was driven by her own challenging educational experiences. “I recognized that the traditional system had set success metrics, and if you did not conform, you were considered a failure. There was no middle ground. I also observed a decrease in play during early schooling years,” she remarks.

She aimed to reintroduce joy into learning. “We believe that children learn in diverse ways and should be in much smaller groups.”

To address that gap, her school was founded on the ‘pedagogy of play’, accommodating just 50 students from grades 1 to 6, along with a team of facilitators referred to as ‘playmakers’.

While micro schools are generally compact, they broaden their educational scope by utilizing their surroundings. For instance, Goa’s diverse ecosystems and easy access to beaches and hills create an ideal setting for The Learning Centre, located in a 150-year-old Portuguese bungalow.

Learning transcends the classroom at this institution; a math lesson might take students on a neighborhood stroll to explore concepts like addition, subtraction, and negotiation in local shops. Swinging on a banyan tree nearby could serve as a hands-on lesson in pendulums. Life skills such as first aid, waste management, handling reptiles, and community cooking are integral to the curriculum.

To compensate for the lack of extensive infrastructure, such as large sports facilities, micro schools often leverage community resources like parks and collaborate with sports centers and pools. This approach proves to be both cost-effective and sustainable.

While some micro school models intentionally remain small-scale and non-profit, their growing potential has begun to attract investors. Recently, Dreamtime Learning secured Pre-Series A funding from Gruhas, an investment firm co-founded by Nikhil Kamath and Abhijeet Pai, to facilitate the expansion of its network of micro schools. Sudipta Saha, the founding chief business officer of Dreamtime Learning, links this rising interest to the essential void these schools are filling.

“Schools and colleges have turned into factories, moving students along grades with success determined solely by marks and entrance exam results. Yet, today’s youth are among the least employable. The underlying issue is the focus schools place on qualifications instead of nurturing a true passion for learning. Our vision was to advocate for education purely for the sake of learning, not just for grades,” Saha clarifies.

“The total investment needed to establish a school like ours is ₹3-4 crore, and we aim to open one or two micro schools each year, with a new one planned to launch in Pune this July,” he adds.

Motivated by a similar desire to reform India’s flawed education system, Dr. Aniruddha Malpani, an IVF specialist from Mumbai, has been funding innovative educational projects to support micro schools like Comini and a network of digital learning pods under the platform Apni Pathshala.

“This represents the future of education. Conventional schooling will eventually reach a tipping point. While homeschooling and unschooling can be excellent, they often appear elitist. Micro schools and learning pods demonstrate that education can be both economical and effective,” he asserts. “With AI and technology, smaller learning models are now feasible, making education more equitable, affordable, and accessible. Pods can be established anywhere, from Dharavi to gated communities,” he adds.

Parents throughout the nation are also starting to recognize the advantages of micro schools. For many, alternative models like Waldorf and Montessori, which were once popular, no longer provide the flexibility they seek.

At Dreamtime Learning Hub, Asher mentions that her micro school attracts parents who are well-traveled and are in search of a community-focused, globally conscious educational experience. “These parents, drawing from their varied expertise, actively engage in the school’s activities,” she adds.

Some micro schools offer parents a chance to escape the fast-paced city lifestyle. TLC in Goa exemplifies this, with its community of parents, many of whom have moved to reconnect with nature and embrace a slower lifestyle. “It’s a collaborative environment, with parents also contributing as part-time facilitators,” explains a TLC parent who chose to remain anonymous while assisting with admissions.

Since these schools lack accreditation, it can feel risky for some parents. However, providing support and allowing them to participate in the experience has proven beneficial.

Aben Andrew, whose children are enrolled at Comini, shares, “The international school our son attended previously was overwhelming with its academic expectations. Before switching to an alternative school, we were concerned about whether we would be raising ‘tree huggers’ without a solid educational foundation and the professions they would choose. However, joining Comini has been transformative—I observe my kids grasping concepts beyond their grade level. We have also connected with like-minded parents, each contributing something valuable.”

The concept of involving parents in the educational process and facilitating sessions at Papagoya is aimed at helping children recognize the strengths within their own communities, explains Issar.

For educators transitioning to micro schools, the allure is similar: the ability to connect with students more intimately, without the overwhelming numbers common in conventional schools.

Teachers who previously worked in traditional institutions receive training on-site. Some are specialists in various fields, such as performing arts, and join as part-time facilitators.

Aruna Rao, the principal at Dreamtime Learning Hub, known to students as a ‘Hub Champion’, mentions that during morning assemblies, they engage in thought-provoking discussions on questions such as, “Is there such a thing as a perfect human being?” or “What qualities should a person possess?” “The responses I receive often surprise me.”

Many micro schools foster inclusivity, providing a comforting atmosphere for children who have struggled in mainstream education due to neurodiversity, anxiety, or bullying. Agile Shaala exemplifies this model, following a hybrid approach where students can choose whether to attend sessions online.

Initially, Agile Shaala was self-funded, raising ₹70 lakh from family, friends, and advisors. “We ensure our teachers receive corporate-level salaries. Our objective is to expand globally, with learning centers every 5–6 kilometers, and to employ a franchise model to collaborate with like-minded individuals, guiding them in establishing their own centers,” she states.

As micro schools continue to emerge across India, one factor that may further enhance their growth is the official recognition of alternative learning networks by India’s education policy.