http://www.monitor.co.ug/news/news010810.php
The Monitor, Uganda
Kampala - Thursday, 08 January 2004 07:35 pm
By Emmanuel N. Mugarura

KAMPALA - Uganda is one of several countries expected to host the newly established Aga Khan Academies.

His Highness the Aga Khan opened the first such academy in Mombasa last month before a gathering of government and civic dignitaries from eight countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

The Minister of Education, Dr Khidu Makubuya, and Minister of General Duties in the office of the Prime Minister, Prof. Mondo Kangonyera. represented Uganda.

"A new school looks to a better world, for it exists to help students develop the character, intellect and mental resilience that will enable them to prosper in circumstances that we can only imagine," the Aga Khan said.

The Aga Khan, who is the spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslim community, said one of the reasons to put up the schools was to offer improved opportunities to the many students from the developing countries who would rather have not got the chance of proceeding to higher education.

The Aga Khan said three characteristics of the academies would be indispensable: quality of teachers, of students and of physical facilities.

"A major goal of the academies is to rejuvenate and restore the public standing of the profession of teaching," The Aga Khan said.

The academies will incorporate professional development centres for teacher training and curricular innovation and extend modern teaching and learning methods to government and private schools locally.

© 2003 The Monitor Publications