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Students poring over a map.
Collaborative environments
Students at the Academy are encouraged to work together and use their critical thinking skills to solve problems.
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Middle Years Programme

The Middle Years Programme comprises eight subject groups, providing a broad and balanced education for early adolescents. Students take the core courses of language and literature, individuals and societies, mathematics, sciences, language acquisition, physical and health education, arts and design. A unique feature of the programme is that it extends beyond the traditional study of subject disciplines by embedding approaches to teaching and learning (ATLs), awareness of global contexts and deep conceptual understanding. Students study one Interdisciplinary Unit each year that looks at a specific conceptual through two subject areas. This unit is taught by two subject area specialists who work together.  

How is learning linked to the real world?

Students cover the major disciplines, gaining a broad education with the option to specialise in later years. Subject groups include: 

  • Languages
  • Sciences
  • Literature
  • Social sciences
  • Mathematics
  • Arts
  • Technology
  • Physical education

They undertake MYP eAssessments in Grade 10, resulting in an internationally-recognised certificate.

“The thing I like most about my subject classes is how different they are. For example you could be filming videos in English class for an assignment on advertising and in another you can be creating an animation for digital design, or coaching a friend through a fitness regime in Physical Health Education.”
Hussain Abdurrahman, Grade 7 student, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa

E-assessments

Throughout, the students connect their classroom work to the wider world. They connect knowledge from different disciplines to solve problems collaboratively, bringing critical thinking to global issues. They consider the needs of their local communities or wider society, and initiate their own projects to bring about positive change. Each element contributes to students’ ethical leadership training, enabling them to emerge as transformative young leaders.

In the past, our students have worked on various personal projects that have positively impacted their local communities. We have had projects consisting of working with the Zanzibar government to develop an environmentally conscious solar power system, developing a safe water filtration system for the people of Kwale, addressing the issue of menstrual hygiene and period poverty across several countries, spreading awareness about the negative impacts of plastic pollution on the environment, and much more.

Affordable wrist splints for children with Cerebral Palsy

Alyssa Jamal displaying the affordable wrist splint she created.
Alyssa Jamal, Grade 10, created affordable wrist splints for children with Cerebral Palsy in Mombasa.
I remember my parents always telling me that it was a blessing when you get to do service. Passion for me is enjoying something beyond explanation. My passion for art led me to volunteer at the Sapling Trust Foundation when I was 10 years old. Through this, I learnt about the various differently abled children. What inspired me was, whenever I visited these children, they were always happy and smiling. I am now carrying on this work for my Year 10 personal project called Assistive Innovations for Cerebral Palsy (AICP). The goal is to recreate an assistive tool for children with cerebral palsy using affordable and locally available materials such as kikoi, wood and velcro. These assistive tools are a necessity along with physical therapy, but are usually not affordable for marginalised communities. I strongly believe that development is only possible when there is fairness and I wanted to bridge the gap between the privileged and the marginalised communities. I have received excellent comments and feedback for my project. About 70-80% of children coming to the centers around Mombasa with cerebral palsy are from marginalised communities. I plan to establish a Creativity, Activity, Service group where I aim to teach students how to recreate hand splints. To make my project even more sustainable, I also plan to reach out to different disability centers in Mombasa and teach them how to recreate the hand splints.  For those of you who are searching for your passion, remember that whenever you enjoy doing something that is giving you endless happiness, recognise it and follow your heart. It can be dancing, singing, sports, music or even just talking to people. You’ll be surprised where your passion can take you. Alyssa Jamal, Grade 10 student, Aga Khan Academy Maputo