While coping with continuous agitations, protests and strikes, a mix of parents of preschool children and teachers/principals have voted for stability in the EW Hyderabad Preschool Rankings 2013. Here are the best preschools of Hyderabad 2013-14

The 292 Sample Respondents comprising a mix of parents of preschool children, and teachers/principals interviewed by Delhi-based market research company C fore in Hyderabad (pop.6.8 million) — the bone of contention between pro and anti — Telangana protestors since the July 30 resolution of the Congress party conceded the establishment of a separate Telangana state to be carved out of Andhra Pradesh — have voted for stability in the EW Hyderabad Preschool Rankings 2013.

The respondents who over the past few months have had to put up with unscheduled school closures because of agitations, protests, and strikes, have reaffirmed the 30-month-old Indus Early Learning Centre, Jubilee Hills (IELC, estb.2011) as Hyderabad’s #1 pre-primary. IELC is  followed by Globe Toters, Jubilee Hills and Kangaroo Kids, Banjara Hills. With Blue Blocks, Gachibowli, and Glendale Edufun, Banjara Hills, they represent the Top 5.

Not surprisingly Nuwaira Pasha, who heads IELC, is thrilled that this new pre-primary has been voted numero uno for the second consecutive year and top-ranked on a record six of ten parameters of excellence — teacher competence, individual attention to students, infrastructure provision, teacher welfare and development, innovative teaching, and leadership quality. “The entire team at IELC is delighted that we have been able to retain our #1 ranking. Over the past year, we have consolidated our systems and processes and are continuously improving the quality of early childhood education we offer. Training and monitoring of teachers is a focus area, and we have also upgraded our infrastructure to include a swimming pool and age-appropriate ICT facilities. More recently, we signed up with the Bangalore-based EduSports to deliver carefully designed sports activities to our children. The sense of ownership and commitment within teachers and parents is a large factor in our success and it’s reassuring to know that young parents of the city — our most important stakeholders — believe we are on the right track,” says Pasha, an alumna of Bangalore University with a Qualified Teacher Status diploma in primary education from the UK.

Promoted in 2011 by the Bangalore-based Indus Trust, which owns and manages the premier Indus International School (IIS) in Bangalore (ranked India’s #1 international day-cum-boarding school in the EducationWorld India School Rankings 2013), IELC, Jubilee Hills, has 100 children mentored by 20 teachers (tuition fee:Rs.1-1.5 lakh per year) on its muster roll, and maintains close connections with sister pre-schools in Bangalore (ranked #2) and Chennai (estb. 2012).

Similarly, Glendale Edufun (estb. 2009), the ECCE venture of a K-12 school (Glendale Academy International, Hyderabad — ranked #7 among Hyderabad’s co-ed day schools in the EW India School Rankings 2013) has sharply risen in public esteem and improved its ranking to #5 (cf. #8 in 2012). Founded by Anjum Babukhan, an education graduate of the Loyola University of Chicago, Illinois, and founder director of Glendale Academy, the preschool has four branches in the city with an aggregate enrollment of 300 students and 40 teachers.

“It’s a proud achievement for the whole team that within four years of becoming operational, Glendale Edufun is ranked among Hyderabad’s Top 5 preschools. Our objective is to prepare children for future success by providing them rich exploratory learning experiences which are also fun-filled and enjoyable. Our dedicated teachers, who are constantly exposed to contemporary developments in ECCE, ensure that every child is ‘learning everyday and loving every minute’ as per our mission statement,” says Sangeeta Pamnani, head of Glendale Edufun.

Further down the table, while Open Interactive Play School, Jubilee Hills, promoted by People Combine Educational Initiatives Pvt. Ltd which run the Oakridge chain of international schools in Hyderabad, Mohali, Visakhapatnam and Bangalore, has retained its #6 rank, Polka Dots, Jubilee Hills, ranked #7 has moved up from #11 last year. On the other hand Kinder Kare, Gachibowli, and EuroKids, Banjara Hills have yielded ground to rank #8 (#5 in 2012) and #9 (#3) respectively. Completing the Top 10 table is Open Interactive Play School, Gachibowli, which has vastly improved upon its 2012 #16 rank.

The seating has also been rearranged in the second half of the Top 20 table. T.I.M.E. Kids, Banjara Hills, Esperanza, Gachibowli, and Bachpan, Sagar Society, have lost their Top 10 status, and are ranked #11, #12 and #14 respectively while Kangaroo Kids, Madhapur, has maintained its #13 position. Bachpan, Road No. 12, Banjara Hills, and Podar Jumbo Kids, Secunderabad, have both moved up two notches to #15 and #16 respectively even as Little Einsteins, Kondapur and Prime Years, Banjara Hills, have failed to maintain their earlier high ranks.

Moreover, three previously unranked preschools have debuted in the EW Hyderabad Preschool Rankings 2013 — The Tree House, Kukatpally (#15); Little Millennium, Saidabad (#17) and CHIREC, Jubilee Hills (#20).

Also read: Hyderabad’s premier preschools 2017-18