The Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of Shia Ismaili Muslims, on Thursday cleared plans for the setting up of an international school of excellence in Andhra Pradesh.
The Agha Khan Development Network would build the school, which is expected to start functioning from July 2006.
The Aga Khan personally inspected the 50-acre site offered by the state government for the academy, and later met Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy to give his nod for setting up the school.
To be set up at an estimated cost of Rs.400 crore, the Aga Khan Academy for Education would offer education till Class 11.
"This institute of excellence will be an international level school till 11th standard. We have also decided to start an institute to train the existing university and technical education level teachers," Reddy said.
The Academy will be set up under the aegis of Aga Khan Education Services.
Founded in 1967, the Aga Khan Foundation is the principal grant-making agency for social development within the Shia Ismaili Imamat. The Aga Khan is its founder and chairman.
With a small staff, a host of co-operating agencies and thousands of volunteers, the foundation reaches out to vulnerable populations on four continents, irrespective of their race, religion, political persuasion or gender.
In 1999, it funded 120 projects in 13 countries and spent 88.9 million dollars.
The Aga Khan is the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. Considered a descendant of the Prophet Mohammad, the 67-year-old is the spiritual leader of an estimated 20 million hi'ite Ismaili Muslims in 25 countries. (ANI)