The story behind a new Malaysian international school with only RM10,000+ in annual fees 

When talking about Malaysian international schools, Taylor’s Education Group (TEG) cannot be left out of the conversation. A prestigious name in private education in Southeast Asia, it carries institutions such Australian International School Malaysia, Garden International School, Nexus International Schools, Taylor’s International Schools, and now, that roster also included the new Lexel International Schools brand.  

With its first campus opened in Gamuda Gardens in September 2025, Lexel International Schools is touted as a “new model of international education designed to make globally benchmarked learning more accessible to Malaysian families.”  

Even with a group like TEG backing the team, it’s no easy task to start a new school. Here’s the founding story behind Lexel International Schools. 

Architecting a school in an era where knowledge is free 

Karl Engkvist, the president of Taylor’s Education Private Limited, shared that Lexel is a brand that is born out of listening. It’s listening to alumni, it’s listening to the Ministry of Education, it’s listening to partners such as Gamuda Land, it’s listening to faculty.  

Parents know that education is changing. We are now living in a world where knowledge is free. Anyone can just go online and do their own research or even get AI to do it for them. With that, the role of schools must now shift to take on a deeper level of responsibility than just imparting “knowledge.”  

Instead of fixating on rote learning, Lexel focusing on three things. First, it’s a community-centric establishment. This is illustrated by the collaboration with Gamuda Land, which grants students at Lexel the ability to use facilities found in the Gamuda Gardens township, such as the indoor courts and Olympic-sized pool, just to name a few.  

The second thing is working with local teachers. 

“So many international schools really focus on hiring expats. We felt there is enough talent in Malaysia, and we should be able to hire from Malaysia,” Engkvist shares. The school’s founding team comprises 20 or so teachers.  

The third factor that shapes Lexel is technology. A school that is founded in today’s world cannot survive without acknowledging tech and AI.  

“We felt like it was incumbent upon us to make sure our students are prepared for the world of the future,” he says. “It’s very clear what we need to do, and we’re making this intrinsic and really a central part of the Lexel value proposition. We need to teach children how to think. We need to teach them how to ask questions. We need to teach them how to evaluate information they are presented with.” 

With these three approaches, Lexel has been able to create a future-forward curriculum that they believe is localised and relevant, at an international calibre and an accessible price point.  

The word “Lexel” is a combination of lexicon and excellence. Source: Lexel International Schools

Balancing affordability with quality  

Lexel International School is touted as an affordable brand under Taylor Schools, with annual fees starting from 10,920 Malaysian ringgit (approximately US$2,652 at the time of writing) for their nursery programme to RM24,120 for Year 11 students (approximately US$ 5,858 at the time of writing).  

Of course, affordability means very different things to different people. RM10,000 to RM25,000 is still a sizable amount to many families. But relatively speaking, it is on the more inexpensive end of the spectrum. Just compare it to a more premium brand such as Lycée Français Kuala Lumpur, where annual fees start at RM29,800 for nursery and RM47,900 for high school students (US$7,285 and US$11,710 at the time of writing).   

So, how are they able to offer this much lower price point while still offering a quality education at the new Malaysian international school?  

Well, actually, it’s the three things that Engkvist has already talked about: the support from Gamuda, local faculty, and technology.  

The partnership with Gamuda Land, of course, has helped to reduce upfront costs to develop a campus, as the developer offered access to their existing facilities to students.  

“The second thing is that we’ve hired talented local teachers here in Malaysia,” Engkvist says. “It’s much more expensive to hire foreigners and convince them to come here.”  

Thanks to the TEG brand, Lexel has been able to attract talented, highly motivated local teachers to work for them. Speaking to faculty members ourselves, we heard that there are staff members who even commute from Puchong daily to work there (a journey of around 40 kilometres).   

The third thing is technology, which has helped to personalise education like never before, Engkvist says.  

“Lexel isn’t the first affordable school. There are plenty of them around,” adds Dato’ Loy Teik Ngan, the Group Executive Chairman of TEG. “I’d like to compare Lexel to the convenient store industry.” 

He pointed out that many may know 7-Eleven, but chances are, they have no idea what was the first convenient store that popped up in Malaysia. Likewise, Lexel might not be the first, but it might just be the 7-Eleven of affordable Malaysian international schools. Consistent, accessible, with a nice environment. With that, they’ve fostered trust and confidence in the brand.  

“Lexel International Schools is trying to be the affordable school that people can recognize for its quality. You can go to any Lexel International School and you know there is a minimum quality and standard to it.”  

Lexel International Schools supports kindergarten to Year 11 students. Source: Lexel International Schools

It’s no cakewalk 

Speaking about the experience of getting the first of Lexel International Schools off the ground, Engkvist says that it’s “like changing oil in the car while going down in the highway.”  

Despite the breadth of knowledge TEG has about education, starting a new education brand in a young township has its own unique challenges. But with the support of patient parents and a capable faculty, they aim to double enrolment by the following year. They are also planning to open the second Lexel International Schools campus in Gamuda Cove next year.