Announcement Overview

GEMS Education, one of the world’s largest private K‑12 operators, issued a press release on 21 Oct 2026 announcing the launch of GEMS Modern Academy in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The new campus, located at Vellakinar, will provide a dual‑curriculum model offering both the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes, thereby giving families a choice between a nationally recognised Indian curriculum and a globally benchmarked international pathway on a single site.

Admissions and Academic Timeline

Admissions for the inaugural cohort open on 20 October 2026. The first group of students is slated to begin studies in the 2027‑28 academic year.

Brand Context and Existing Presence

The parent brand, GEMS Modern Academy Dubai, is recognised as one of Dubai’s most outstanding schools. It already operates an additional campus in Kochi, Kerala, and the Coimbatore launch adds a third Indian location. Other GEMS brands, namely GEMS Millennium Schools and GEMS School of Excellence, collectively run more than 15 schools across various Indian cities.

Rationale for Coimbatore

The release highlights Coimbatore’s evolution into a dynamic South Indian hub for manufacturing, engineering, textiles, healthcare and a rapidly expanding technology sector. The city is described as home to families with strong aspirations for high‑quality education, making it a strategic market for GEMS’s world‑class school model.

GEMS Education Global Footprint

  • Operates in 10+ countries.
  • Educates more than 200,000 students from 176 nationalities.
  • Employs over 20,000 staff, including more than 10,000 educators and school leaders representing 112 nationalities.
  • Founded in 1959 in Dubai by two Indian teachers; now boasts a 65‑year legacy.

Academic Achievements and University Placements

Over the past five years, GEMS students have secured places at more than 2,000 universities across 71 countries, including all eight U.S. Ivy League institutions and all 24 UK Russell Group universities. In the last four years alone:

  • 3,500+ graduates attended the world’s top 100 universities.
  • 2,200+ progressed to Russell Group universities.
  • ≈2,000 enrolled at the world’s top 50 universities.
  • >60 entered Ivy League schools.

Leadership Quotes

> “Coimbatore is a city of enterprise, innovation and strong family values, and we are delighted to bring GEMS Modern Academy here. By offering both CBSE and IB under one roof, we give parents genuine choice, with education that is rooted locally and connected globally. Our aim is to create a future‑focused learning environment where every child is known, challenged and inspired to reach their full potential.” – Francis Joseph, India CEO, GEMS Education

> “We are proud to open the doors of GEMS Modern Academy to the families of Coimbatore. Backed by GEMS Education’s legacy of more than 65 years in delivering high‑quality education, our school will combine academic excellence with creativity, wellbeing and a strong sense of values. Whether students choose the CBSE or IB pathway, they will be prepared for success in an increasingly interconnected world.” – Mrs. Molly Cyril, Member, School Governing Board

Educational Philosophy

The release stresses a teacher‑first, child‑first approach, asserting that the true strength of a school lies in the quality of its teaching rather than infrastructure. Teachers at the new academy will be empowered as leaders, with decisions prioritising meaningful learning experiences and holistic development—academically, socially and emotionally.