Aga Khan High School, Kampala

The Ugandan school entrenching academic resilience and inter-cultural  understanding through adversity-focused initiatives to make a positive contribution to society.

Aga Khan High School, Kampala (AKSHK), an independent kindergarten, primary, and secondary school, operated by the Aga Khan Education Service, located in Kampala, Uganda, is changing outcomes for students of diverse backgrounds and cultures through its adversity-focused initiatives. The school recruits students from diverse cultural, emotional and linguistic backgrounds, including those from conflict-ridden countries of East Africa.

To address these challenges, the school has implemented a three-pillar framework that includes academic resilience, holistic support, and cultural restoration to support students facing adversity. In a dedicated Learning Support Centre,  students receive customised tutoring in core subjects and English language support, and individualised education plans support learners to entrench a more inclusive culture. A mentorship programme where the students co-create an academic and personal growth plan has been implemented to help students overcome emotional and academic hurdles, and the school hosts monthly sessions to build self-efficacy and problem-solving skills. Parents and community members are encouraged to attend weekly forums where they co-design support strategies for learners. 

The school also offers a dynamic co-curricular programme and supports entrepreneurial initiatives supported by Junior Achievement. Through the school’s Learning Support Centre, 90% of learners achieve passing grades in national exams, the school has consistently outperformed the global average in the IB Diploma Programme examinations, the graduation rates have risen from 72% to 98% and 85% proceed to join universities and colleges in and outside Uganda, and about 10% gain scholarships to join universities outside Uganda.

Strong foundations are laid from the school’s holistic approach, which gives each student a joyful and inspiring educational experience that is inclusive, nurturing, and academically sound, preparing them to take the lead as changemakers of the future.