The Guardian
Friday, March 21, 2003
http://www.ippmedia.com/guardian/2003/03/21/guardian9.asp


Aga Khan education services plans centre of excellence

By Guardian reporter

The Aga Khan Education Services (AKES) intends to build a centre of excellence in Tanzania which will teach, among other subjects, computer and language skills and physical education. AKES will also build similar centres in Kenya, Uganda, Madagascar, Bangladesh, India, Mozambique, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan. During her recent visit to Mozambique, Princess Zahra, eldest daughter of the Aga Khan, visited Matola where a 23-hectare site has been set aside for such a centre. According to a press release, issued in France, the centres will integrate state-of-the-art resources such as science and language laboratories, libraries and information technology sections. The centres will be connected with the Aga Khan University’s Institute for Education Development, established in collaboration with the Aga Khan Development Network educational institutions and programmes. These institutions include the Aga Khan University, with campuses in Africa, Asia and Europe, the University of Central Asia and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture’s humanities project. The centres will not only follow national curricula but also offer programmes leading to the International Baccalaureate. While in Mozambique, Princess Zahra visited a number of villages in Quissanga District and Ibo Island where women run a low-cost fish-processing centre. During her two-day visit she toured centres for groundnut seed multiplication, sesame and sunflower oil pressing, chicken farming and livestock production.