MOMBASA (KENYA): Saleem, a 13-year-old in Kenya’s second-largest city, till the end of 2009, used to work at a cycle shop for three hours before and after school hours to pay for his term fees. But now, he lives in a spacious residential quarter facing the marine drive and has to spend not even a shilling on tuition fees. Saleem, like many other students at the Aga Khan Academy, is on a fully funded primary, middle and secondary school programme that allows him to get an International Baccalaureate ( IB) education at no cost.
The Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa stands on 18 acres of land, housing 650 students between ages six and 18. It was established in 2003 and, since then, has been catering to the less fortunate in Kenyan society even while taking students from across the globe. The academy is located on the sea coast, just five kilometres away from the heart of the scenic, and busy, Mombasa town.
The academy which has woven in readings on pluralism into its syllabus is, interestingly, a meeting point for the many cultures in Mombasa. The city which bears Portuguese and Arabic influence in its rich architecture encourages the best of all cultures. With living standards in this Safari tourism destination improving over the last decade, even the government has started diverting funds towards the education sector. Almost all students at the academy are receiving education subsidies, thanks to a tie up between the Kenyan government and the Aga Khan foundation. The academy is the first among the 18 academies which make up the Aga Khan Development Network.
Academic heads of the institution said that they make it a point to reduce the cultural and economic distance between students. “We are here to provide a mixture of all cultures and races. Within campus walls, students from various backgrounds mingle freely. They are encouraged to understand one another and assimilate the best of all cultures. This free and egalitarian existence makes them better human beings,” said Salim AL Bhatia, director, Aga Khan Academies. Students from East Africa, Middle-East, Central and South Asia study at this academy. The academy has also been taking in exchange students from Tajikistan to further enhance the heady pluralism on campus.
Students said that the training given to them at the academy had made them free thinkers. “We are encouraged to think on our own in the academy. We draw from our experiences to understand theories which are universal. This also puts less pressure on us as we go through a rigorous academic programme,” said Ham, a diploma student from Uganda. Starting from primary school, students are encouraged to engage in debates and discussions on just about everything. The academy has made it mandatory for students to take part in at least two sports.
But what makes the academy different from other educational institutions is its commitment to the community of which it is a part. The academy conducts training programmes for teachers from across Africa and also runs outreach programmes to get government schools in Kenya to adopt a student-friendly approach to teaching.
“We identify schools and train teachers and principals to impart an inclusive education which is not based on direct and one-sided instruction. Interestingly, as a result of our outreach programmes in several government-run schools in Mombasa, one can now see a marked change in the way students go about learning the various subjects which interest them. They are no longer afraid of examinations and are confident,” said Rob Burrough, head of the Mombasa Academy. About 40% of the students at the academy come from Asian countries and more than half of them are of Indian origin.
Meanwhile, in Hyderabad, a chapter of the Aga Khan Academy is already functional. The Hyderabad academy is expected to be Andhra Pradesh’s first state-of-the-art international school. The school, set up on a sprawling 100 acre campus near Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, is currently admitting students from eight years of age. Incidentally, the academy will also be one of the few international schools in the city to follow only the International Baccalaureate syllabus without any supporting Indian (CBSE or ICSE) affiliation, says head John Puddefoot. While the school has about 70 students at present, it could accommodate up to 1,200 students once the campus is ready within the next five years.
(This correspondent was in Kenya at the invitation of the Aga Khan Foundation)
More info on AKES India: http://www.agakhanschools.org/india/
Ismailimail 
Chinese have a saying to invest for a year plant rice for a ten year investment plant trees to invest in generation after generation invest in people thru education and this is so true for AGA KHAN ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE this is undoubtedly a very small step to change the world thru education but surely it would ,and there are many more that are planned around the world.Bravo it makes proud of the Moula and my brothers and sisters Ismailies
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