After Kenya springboard, South Africa Private School advances to Ethiopia

Written by Oral East Africa

Less than a decade after South Africa Private Equity ADvTECH acquired Makini Group of Schools, the firm has now announced a venture into Ethiopia’s private schooling.

ADvTECH acquired Flipper International School in Ethiopia Kes942 million ($7.3 million) as the the JSE-listed private education provider continues to build scale and quality private education provision on the continent.

The acquisition will add five schools and approximately 3000 students to the group’s international portfolio.

“The move aligns with ADvTECH’s Schools Division strategy to expand its footprint in East Africa, catering to the growing demand for private education. It also marks the group’s second major expansion in the region since 2018, when the company acquired Makini Group of Schools and established Crawford International School, both in Kenya,” ADvTECH CEO Geoff Whyte said.

“We are delighted to welcome Flipper International Schools to the ADvTECH Group and remain committed to its founding ethos. Furthermore, the acquisition positions us well to grow our presence in the Ethiopian market, as well as expand our scale across the continent,” he said.

This is the second major expansion in East Africa following the 2018 acquisition of Makini Group of Schools and establishment of Crawford International School in Kenya.

A South African success

ADvTECH’s Schools Division comprises ten brands with 118 schools across the continent, including Gaborone International School in Botswana, the Makini Group of Schools and Crawford International School in Kenya.

It owns eight Universities, across 33 campuses in South Africa. ADvTECH’s 6 Resourcing brands place thousands of candidates annually.

The new acquisition Flipper International School operates five campuses located in Beklobet, in central Addis Ababa, and Summit, in the eastern part of the city.

Founded in 1998 by Flipper International School has has grown and with support from Saham Group (Saham) and Tana Africa Capital (Tana), the school grew rapidly over the last five years, including the development of a state-of-the-art campus in Addis Ababa’s Summit area.

“We are incredibly proud of what we have built at Flipper International School. Our mission has always been to be a beacon of academic excellence in the region. We are confident that ADvTECH’s expertise and resources will help the school further enhance the educational experience and growth opportunities for students and staff,” the founders Menna Selamu Bekele and Serkaddis Seifu Yeteshawork said.

As Addis Ababa experiences rapid urbanization, the demand for high-quality education has grown significantly, presenting ADvTECH with an ideal opportunity to diversify its portfolio and expand into a promising new market.