After Dr. Montessori’s death in 1952, many unaffiliated single-purpose teacher education institutions emerged, each with its own distinctive identity, form, certification and support for operation. The largest number of these may have been established in southern Asia, including India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
During the 1940’s, Dr. Montessori spent several years in southern Asia, training teachers and helping to establish schools.  This personal influence of Dr. Montessori’s presence led to the formation of many independent training programs in that region. Some of these obtained affiliation with international organizations, but many more remained independent and free-standing, based on the business interests, experience and strength of its individual founder. In Sri Lanka, for example, Sharmini DeZylva, organized the Woodlands Training Center, which has been training and certifying Montessori teachers, many of whom have acquired successful employment in diverse locations around the world.