South Africa’s ADvTECH is steadily expanding its network of schools and higher education institutions across Africa, giving families and education professionals a closer look at how the continent’s private education sector is changing.

The group’s latest expansion in Kenya centres on Makini Schools Runda, the former Regis Runda Academy, which ADvTECH acquired for approximately R172 million in 2025. The school has capacity for 2,000 students and sits in Runda, northeast of Nairobi, an area identified by the group as having significant potential for further growth.

For parents and school leaders, the development is about more than another school changing ownership. It highlights a wider trend in African education, with established education groups investing across borders and bringing different curricula, teaching approaches and resources into new markets.

ADvTECH’s African Education Expansion

ADvTECH already operates education brands across several African markets, including South Africa, Kenya, Botswana and Ethiopia. Its international school portfolio includes Crawford International, Makini Schools, Gaborone International School and Flipper International School.

The acquisition of Regis Runda added another school to its growing Kenyan network. ADvTECH assumed operational control in August 2025 and subsequently incorporated the school into the Makini brand. The group has also been investing in facilities, academic support systems and digital learning tools at the site. ADvTECH CEO Geoff Whyte said,

“We are delighted to increase our Makini Schools footprint in Kenya and to bring the brand’s compelling proposition to parents and students. We are delighted to increase our Makini Schools footprint in Kenya and to bring the brand’s compelling proposition to parents and students. We are delighted to increase our Makini Schools footprint in Kenya and to bring the brand’s compelling proposition to parents and students.”

Makini Schools now has six schools across Nairobi and Kisumu, according to ADvTECH. The brand follows both the Kenyan national Competency Based Curriculum and the Cambridge International Curriculum.

For families, that combination matters because curriculum choice can influence future pathways. At Crawford International Kenya, for example, students progress through Cambridge programmes towards IGCSE and A Levels.

Why Kenya Has Become A Key Education Market

Kenya has become an important market within ADvTECH’s African strategy.

The group already had a presence through Makini Schools and Crawford International before acquiring Regis Runda. The additional campus gives ADvTECH a stronger position in a different part of Nairobi and creates room for further enrolment growth.

The school currently has around 1,000 students, with immediate capacity for 2,000 and longer-term potential for around 3,000, according to ADvTECH’s 2025 interim results presentation.

There is also a curriculum development underway. ADvTECH has received approval to introduce the Cambridge International curriculum at Makini Schools Runda, with implementation beginning in September 2026.

For educators and school leaders, this offers an interesting example of how an education group can combine an existing school community with investment in facilities, technology and curriculum.

For parents, the changes may eventually mean more choice within the same school network, particularly for families looking for internationally recognised qualifications.

From Kenya To Ethiopia, The Network Is Growing

Kenya is only one part of the expansion. In November 2024, ADvTECH acquired Flipper International School in Addis Ababa for approximately R135 million. The deal added five schools and more than 3,000 students to its international portfolio.

Flipper follows both the Ethiopian curriculum and Cambridge International programmes, including Cambridge International AS and A Levels. The acquisition also shows the group’s approach to entering established education markets rather than building every campus from the ground up.

Meanwhile, ADvTECH continues to operate three schools in Gaborone, Botswana, through Gaborone International School. Its international schools operation was serving just under 12,000 students across three countries in 2025, before the Regis Runda acquisition was added to the portfolio.

The Expansion Now Reaches Higher Education

ADvTECH’s ambitions extend beyond schools. In June 2025, the group launched Rosebank International University College in Accra, Ghana. It became ADvTECH’s first tertiary institution outside South Africa, with its first academic semester beginning in September 2025.

The Accra institution offers qualifications across areas including business administration, digital marketing, information technology, service management and hospitality. Fifteen qualifications had been accredited when the university college launched.

That gives the group a presence across different stages of education, from schools to tertiary study. For students, this wider network could create more exposure to different education systems and international study pathways. For education leaders, it also provides an example of how large private education organisations are building regional networks rather than operating as single-country institutions.

What This Could Mean For African Schools

ADvTECH’s expansion provides a useful window into the changing private education landscape across Africa.

The group’s investments have involved established schools with existing students, staff and communities. At the same time, ADvTECH is adding investment in areas such as digital learning, facilities, sports and curriculum development.

The Regis Runda development is particularly notable because ADvTECH says it is investing in ICT infrastructure and AI-powered digital learning tools alongside improvements to academic support systems.

For educators, this raises important questions about how technology should be introduced into classrooms and how investment can translate into better learning experiences.

For parents, the more practical question is what these changes mean for their children. Curriculum options, teaching quality, student support, facilities and progression pathways are likely to matter more than the size of the education group behind a school. That is why ADvTECH’s African expansion is worth watching beyond the acquisition figures.

A More Connected African Education Landscape

ADvTECH is not the only organisation investing in African education, but its growing footprint illustrates a broader shift towards regional education networks. Its current international presence spans Kenya, Botswana and Ethiopia, while its tertiary expansion has now reached Ghana.

The development also reflects an increasingly connected education landscape, where curricula such as Cambridge International qualifications can operate alongside national education systems.

For students and families, that can create additional choices. For schools and educators, it can also bring new expectations around teaching quality, technology, student support and international progression. Ultimately, the significance of ADvTECH’s expansion will not be measured simply by how many campuses it owns.

The more important question for families and educators is what happens inside those classrooms, and whether investment across borders translates into stronger learning experiences for students.