Education Initiatives

The Aga Khan Foundation’s (AKF) Adolescent Girls’ Education in Crisis Initiative increases the capacity of adolescent girls and young women to make decisions about educational opportunities. This aims to improve gender-responsive and inclusive learning environments.

Before the current crisis, we worked with the Ministry of Education (MoE) at both local and national levels to support the education system. Education initiatives ranged from early childhood development to professional teacher development. AKDN worked with local authorities and civil society organisations to advance early childhood education programmes and English-language instruction.

In 2002, AKDN agencies began providing computer laboratories and training for use in 12 schools across Syria. In 2006, we inaugurated an English Language-ICT centre in Salamieh.

Professional Development of Teachers

AKF engages in adapting, localising, translating and disseminating courses and other global resources on teacher training, pluralism and other topics. This provides teachers with professional development on creating inclusive classroom environments. This training reached more than 600 teachers and school heads in 2021.

In 2003, the Aga Khan University’s Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED) began working with the MoE to improve English-language instruction in Syria. AKU-IED and the Aga Khan Education Services (AKES) developed a proposal for enhancing the capacity of MoE staff through a Master of Education and certificate programmes.

AKU-IED worked with the MoE to enhance curriculum development and the learning skills of teachers and English-language inspectors. As of December 2005, 39 instructors had completed an eight-week certificate programme in Karachi, Pakistan. This enabled English- language inspectors and instructors to apply a variety of pedagogical approaches to meet students’ learning needs. Teachers also shared their knowledge and experience with colleagues and students to teach more effectively.