Generation will continue with
the Montessori philosophy in its
primary schools, with children
working together in 6-9 and
9-12 year groups. But at the
same time it will introduce the
Cambridge curriculum, which
is developed by the university
of Cambridge and provides
learners with an internationally
recognised education.
The focus here is to use
Montessori as a philosophy of
transferring knowledge through
experience while using an
international curriculum as its
measuring mechanism.
“Montessori is incredibly popular in
South Africa, but many parents are
concerned that it does not prepare
children for ‘traditional’ schooling,”
says Epstein. “This approach blends
the two together.”
Epstein is an accountant by training
and founded Reporting Solutions,
which provides accounting services
to schools. This will be incorporated
into the schools group.
In 2017 the company will introduce
Generation Elementary (12-15
Years) and in 2018 Generation High
(15–18 Years). “We cannot introduce
these classes without preparing the
base first, so our schools must grow
with our children,” says Epstein.
While the schools will be equipped
with swimming pools and playing
fields, this is not a primary focus
and Generation plans to partner
with local sports clubs and facilities
instead. In this way schools can be
built on smaller footprints of land
than traditional schools.
"
The growth strategy, at this point,
will be slow and steady rather than
fast and aggressive. “The school
venture will not be material in
the early part of operation, but
we wouldn’t be doing this unless
we had ambitions to grow much
bigger,” Shapiro says.
“Our history has taught us to use
our balance sheet carefully. We
like to test our assumptions and
models carefully and would rather
focus on buying and operating well.
If you don’t buy at the right price,
it doesn’t matter how well you
operate – you will never achieve
your internal rate of return.”
Following its capital raise late last
year (at R3.00), Trematon had
about R150 million on its balance
sheet, which it said would fund the
pipeline of opportunities for the
financial year.
While management are the largest
shareholders, 70% of issued
shares are held by institutions and
retail investors. ■
Montessori
is incredibly
popular
in South
Africa,
but many
parents are
concerned
that it does
not prepare
children for
‘traditional’
schooling,
Jevron
Epstein
The first Generation school is being built in Sunningdale, north of Cape Town.
ISSUE 6 – SEPTEMBER 2015
17