Ms. Lina Ashar, Founder, Dreamtime Learning Ms. Lina Ashar is an accomplished entrepreneur, educationist, and author who is widely recognized as the founder of the Kangaroo Kids Education Limited (KKEL) and Billabong High International School. Passionate about transforming the education ecosystem, Ms Ashar founded Dreamtime Learning School, one of its kind education-first school revolutionizing the education industry with its innovative hybrid-learning model.
Born in Mumbai, India, and started her career as a teacher in a local school, she soon realized that the education system in India needed to be reformed to cater to the changing needs of students. With this vision in mind, she founded Kangaroo Kids Education Ltd. (KKEL) in 1993, which aimed to provide a more holistic and child-centric approach to education.
KKEL’s first preschool was opened in Mumbai and soon expanded to other cities in India and abroad. KKEL has over 100 centres in India, Dubai, Qatar, and Maldives today. In 2003, Ms. Ashar founded Billabong High International School, which offers a unique curriculum that focuses on the holistic development of children. The school has branches in several cities in India and has been ranked among the top 10 international schools in the country.
Her approach to education is based on the belief that learning should be fun and engaging. Therefore, she has created a learning environment that encourages creativity, curiosity, and a love for learning. Her curriculum is designed to be hands-on, experiential, and practical, focusing on developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Ms. Ashar is a visionary leader who has transformed the education landscape in India by introducing innovative teaching methods that focus on the overall development of children. Her passion for education and her commitment to providing quality education to all children, regardless of their background, make her a true inspiration.
Known for her eloquence, clarity of thought, and passion for education, she deeply understands the educational system’s challenges and has recognized innovative solutions to address them. Her views on education are highly respected and sought after by policymakers, educators, and parents alike. Ms Ashar’s focus on quality education earned her several accolades and recognition, including the prestigious Woman Entrepreneur of the Year award by the Economic Times in 2012, the Education Entrepreneur of the Year award by the Indian Education Congress in 2015, and the ‘Karmaveer Puraskar’ by the iCONGO (International Confederation of NGOs) in 2017.
She has also been acknowledged as one of the most renowned spokespersons on topics related to education, child development, and entrepreneurship.
Apart from her educational contributions, Ms Ashar is also a philanthropist and a supporter of various social causes. She has established the Ashar Education Trust, which provides financial assistance to underprivileged students to pursue their education. She also supports various NGOs that work towards the welfare of children and women.
She is also an accomplished author and speaker. Her books, including “Who Do You Think You Are?” and “Raising a Future Ready Child,” have received critical acclaim and have helped parents and educators to understand the needs of the modern child