Since its launch in 1996, Agahi has succeeded in six areas:
- Community Development
- Schools
- Students
- Teachers
- Teacher Training Centre
- Employment
Community Development –we have facilitated a community development process in 6 villages that brought parents together – especially those with young children – to establish school management committees (SMCs or tanzeems). These SMCs are responsible for managing their schools. They work with the school Principal and teachers to ensure quality education and that the school functions well. They provide direction and resolve various issues such as admissions, teacher recruitment, , parent questions and complaints and extra-curricular activities.
Schools – we have created eight schools totalling 58 classrooms educating over 1500 girls and boys. Six withstood the 2005 earthquake. The two we built near the epicentre were built after the earthquake and are designed to be earthquake resistant. All Agahi’s classrooms are light–filled and built to minimise the summer heat and winter cold.
Agahi supports the first 8 years of schooling from Nursery to Grade 6. Four schools have progressed to Grade 10 the later grades being entirely managed by the SMCs.
The schools meet government curriculum requirements although the teching method used is learning-by-doing and activity or project based. Courses include math, languages, science, and Islamic and social studies. Teaching is further supplemented with sports, and extra-curricular events such as debates and inter-school competitions. The schools are community-managed whereby the parents have the greatest say over how they are run. For example, the School Management Committees have decided that after Grade 4, half of the subjects should be taught in English, which is seen as an important skill for employment and commerce.
Students –every year we enrol 200 new students , mostly at the Nursery and Prep levels. Monthly fees are around Rs 200 (Cdn$ 2.50) a month per student. Many students come from families so poor that they are unable to pay. These are awarded discounts and scholarships by the School Management Committees. The girl-to-boy ratio is kept around 50 / 50. All Agahi classes are co-educational. Agahi’s success is illustrated in its students’ accomplishments. They excel in provincial exams. Having been educated through modern teaching methods, Agahi graduating girls are going on to become teachers themselves both in Agahi and in other schools. Agahi’s graduates are gaining entry to the country’s best high schools.
Teachers –All teachers are women. They are recruited from the village or surrounding neighbourhood of the schools they serve. Teaching is culturally acceptable for women, especially when they work within their own village. Starting as shy and dependant village women they quickly gain confidence emerging as confident and productive teachers with a year or two of Agahi’s teacher training and mentoring.
Agahi Teacher Training Centre - All teachers are graduates of the Agahi teacher training process – which includes 6 weeks of formal training each year at the Agahi Teacher Training Centre followed with regular in-classroom support and mentoring. Teacher training was set up in collaboration with the prestigious Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development (IED) which has been funded by many donors, including CIDA. .We have trained over 250 teachers now working in Agahi and elsewhere. Agahi trained teachers are in demand assuring them of jobs and higher starting salaries.
Employment –in addition to the teachers, we also employ 30 other staff as security, helpers and cleaners. We are now developing plans for improving employment prospects for all students through an Agahi vocational training centre. |
There are more girls than boys in Agahi schools. 
Agahi schools are based on self-help. Parents pay regular fees towards teachers’ salaries and are involved in the school’s day to day management. Agahi schools have been self-sustaining since 1997. 
