The ‘Heureka’ curriculum, influenced by Harvard University’s Project Zero, builds on over 200 globally recognized teaching practices. EuroKids, a prominent playschool chain and a part of KKR-backed Lighthouse Learning, aims to double its network to 3,000 preschools across India over the next three years, revealed a top executive.
“We currently operate 1,600 preschools across 400 cities, and we plan to expand this to 3,000 in the next three years,” said KVS Seshasai, CEO of the Pre-K Division (EuroKids) at Lighthouse Learning.
On Thursday, Seshasai unveiled the latest edition of the EuroKids curriculum, dubbed ‘Heureka.’ Speaking to the Financial Express, he confirmed that this ambitious growth will be powered entirely by the franchise model. Women entrepreneurs, who make up 60-80% of their franchise base, are set to lead this expansion. “We have no current plans to open our own preschools because the franchise model unleashes the entrepreneurial drive of our partners and taps into their nuanced understanding of local markets,” he explained.
Since its inception in 2001 with just two preschools, EuroKids has educated over 700,000 children. Now supported by the US private equity powerhouse KKR, EuroKids’ parent company, Lighthouse Learning Group, oversees a wide array of educational brands, including Kangaroo Kids International Preschool, EuroSchool, Billabong High International, and Centre Point Group of Schools, delivering education from early childhood to K-12.
EuroKids revises its curriculum every three years through extensive collaboration with parents and franchisees, keeping pace with global innovations in early childhood education. The latest update, ‘Heureka,’ draws directly from Harvard’s Project Zero, incorporating 20 structured Thinking Routines aimed at igniting curiosity, stimulating imagination, and nurturing critical thinking in preschoolers.
Seshasai remarked that there has been a noticeable increase in demand for preschool education following the pandemic, as parents strive to reintroduce their children to social environments after prolonged isolation. “We observed children struggling with behavioral issues. Some were overly withdrawn, unsure of how to socialize, while others exhibited hyper-aggressive tendencies or anger management problems. However, the situation is gradually stabilizing,” he said.
The new curriculum, according to Seshasai, addresses these challenges by focusing on five key areas—emotional, physical, intellectual, creative, and spiritual development. These elements are designed to help young children navigate the complexities of early education and personal growth.
