Aga Khan Higher Secondary School, Gahkuch

Curriculum

To bring diversity and rigour to the learning experiences of our students, the Aga Khan Higher Secondary Schools have a holistic approach to the curriculum.

A Rigorous Academic Experience

To bring diversity and rigour to the learning experiences of our students, Aga Khan Schools have a two-fold curriculum approach. First, the syllabi prescribed by the examination boards are enriched, which means that the entire curriculum is reviewed and revised with special focus on certain themes and concepts. The teaching of English is skill-based, focusing on reading and critical thinking, writing skills, oral communication skills, as well as on the ethical and social dimensions of language learning. The Science teaching and learning focuses more on conceptual understanding and exploration. Our approach is inquiry-based and students learn through project work and practical experimentation. In addition, the School is introducing Physical Education and Health, as well as PrISM — Personal, Intellectual, Social and Moral development — curriculums.

Classroom sessions are student-centered with a focus on interactive teaching that includes discussions, case studies and research projects. For assessment, the School is affiliated with the Aga Khan University Examination Board (AKU-EB), the only examination board in South Asia to integrate e-marking, or computer-based marking, in its assessment methodology.

Currently, the School offers instruction in following areas:

  1. Pre-Secondary (Grade VIII)
  2. Secondary School Certificate (SSC) in Science Group
  3. Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) in Pre-Medical and Pre-Engineering

Pre-Secondary Level

While the national curriculum is followed for grade VIII students, school leaders have made significant enrichments in the syllabus. The prime focus of the grade VIII curriculum is to give a strong basis in English, Mathematics and Science subjects. Other compulsory subjects like Urdu, Pakistan studies and Islamiat are also part of the curriculum.

Secondary School Certificate (SSC)

The School offers science subjects at Secondary level. These subjects include Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Mathematics, Pakistan Studies, Islamiat and Urdu. The School follows Aga Khan University Examination syllabus prescribed by the National Curriculum.

Higher Secondary School Certificate in Pre-Medical

For Pre-Medical students, the schools lay the foundations for a professional career in medicine. The senior two years at the Aga Khan Higher Secondary Schools are extremely important for the students’ personal and academic development in preparation for a challenging and professional journey.

The Higher Secondary Pre-Medical Pre-Medical programme provides a foundational understand of the basics of scientific inquiry, with opportunities to explore Physiotherapy, Surgery, Pharmacy, Microbiology, Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, and so on.

The scientific skills of the students are polished in an atmosphere conducive to learning, under the guidance of highly-qualified and passionate faculty. Students attend lectures, take part in interactive sessions, and conduct practicals in well-equipped labs.

Higher Secondary School Certificate in Pre-Engineering

The Higher Secondary Pre-Engineering provides general exposure to many aspects of basic scientific inquiry. All courses within the programme are designed to prepare students to pursue different fields of engineering such as Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Aeronautical, Architectural, Telecom, Chemical, Environmental, Space and others. This is achieved through detailed lectures, interactive sessions, seminars, and practicals in well-equipped labs.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Various inter-school and intra-school competitions are held to provide valuable exposure to AKHSS, Gahkuch students.

Clubs and Societies

Essay-writing, speech, drama, quiz and sports competitions are held to give students opportunities to develop different skills to complement academic strengths.

In addition, AKHSS, Gahkuch has an elected Students Representative Council which is comprised of students from all grades. By standing for election and exercising the right to vote, students learn about democracy, equality and inclusion. The Council provides a platform for students to raise and explore sustainable solutions to their concerns.