Education
The Aga Khan Education Services (AKES) was created by Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan III, His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV's predecessor and grandfather. Aga Khan Schools were first established as early as 1905. These included a handful of community-based literacy classes in remote rural areas of South East Asia which were strikingly progressive for their time. They put emphasis on accessibility for all communities regardless of socioeconomic status, teaching both girls and boys, and stressing the importance of equitable early childhood education.
Today, the Aga Khan Education Services is one of the largest private, not-for-profit, non-denominational educational networks in the developing world. AKES currently operates over 200 pre-primary, primary, secondary, and higher-secondary schools and programmes in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Uganda and the United Arab Emirates. Programmes include affiliation with rigorous national curricula and international curricula such as the International Baccalaureate, Cambridge International Education and the Aga Khan University-Examination Board (AKU-EB) programmes. The schools have been an exemplar of progressive education in the regions within which they operate, with a continued emphasis on child-centered learning, teacher training and education for girls. AKES has been a leader in these areas for over a hundred years.
Our goal is to provide quality education that prepares students to thrive personally and professionally. Our programmes embody AKES’ commitment to service, not just in the school, but to the neighbouring community and beyond.
Our extensive reach, progressive programmes and emphasis on inclusivity create a positive, permanent impact on the students, teachers, parents, alumni, and communities we serve.
Aga Khan Development Network
Aga Khan Development Network
AKES is a part of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of private, international, non-denominational agencies working to improve living conditions and opportunities for people in the developing world. The Network's organisations have varying individual mandates ranging from health and education to architecture, rural development and the promotion of private-sector enterprise.
The AKDN was founded by His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, the 49th hereditary Imam of Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims. For His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, one manifestation of his hereditary responsibilities as spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslim community was a deep and renowned engagement with education and international development.
His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V is the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, and the Chair of AKDN. He succeeded his father in accordance with historical Shia Imami Ismaili tradition on 4 February 2025.
Together the AKDN agencies work towards a common goal - to build institutions and programmes that can respond to the challenges of social, economic and cultural change.
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https://www.agakhanschools.org/