Maryam: Becoming a better teacher
The Teacher Preparation Programme (TPP) is one of the Aga Khan Academies’ landmark teacher development initiatives. In this interview with Kamini Menon at the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad, TPP participant Maryam talks about the TPP’s unique aspects and her experience with the programme.
Please tell us a little bit about your background.
I’m a part of the Teacher Preparation Programme in Hyderabad. This is my fifth year in teaching, and previously I worked for a Teach for India school in Delhi teaching 48 amazing girls. When my fellowship with Teach for India was over, I applied to the Academy, and here I am.
What made you join the Academy and inspired you to come here?
My previous experience as a Teach for India Fellow made me feel like I wanted to something more than just being a teacher. So I was looking for an option post-fellowship that shared a similar mindset or similar values. When I read about the Academies, the vision really interested me as well as the whole inclusive policy: giving a chance to anyone coming from any background and making sure that we provide them this idea of excellence in education. That was something that really inspired me, and so I joined the Academy.
Talk about the Teacher Preparation Programme (TPP) and where you are in that journey.
The Teacher Preparation Programme is the initiative of the Academies to make sure that we have home-grown teachers who become IB educators. This is a great initiative. This is my ninth month into the programme, and I teach in a classroom, I research, and do a lot of things at the same time. I am getting mentored by experts and improving my pedagogy every day.
Can you explain the structure of TPP? How it is organised and what does it involve?
The programme is an intense 18-month long process, and you do things in phases. In Phase One, we were in a classroom, paired with a mentor, teaching 20% of the time. Now, we are in Phase Two, and I have to teach 50% of my time in a classroom. But it’s not just the teaching. We also have to write an action research paper, which is crucial to the whole programme. Another thing which is important is the Problem-Based Learning Sessions, which are a great way to reflect on who you are as a person, not just as a teacher. In these sessions, we meet three times in a week, and we bring together all our research findings and what we have collected, and we progress to the next learning target. We work on this in groups, and then we get to reflect and apply that in a classroom at the same time.
Can you share two aspects of the programme that you find particularly unique or helpful?
For me, the most interesting part was problem-based learning. It takes a lot of patience to think in a broader way about a problem. The problem sets are given to us – then you create your learning targets, and the whole group researches with different objectives. That makes you really responsible, that improves your research skills. At the same time, it teaches you how to collaborate with members of the group. Another part that I find really interesting and at the same time challenging is my action research piece. It’s not just research; the action part is the most challenging part because you have to reflect on your own practice. For example, I am doing something on inquiry right now, but it’s not just inquiry – it’s “why inquiry in an IB classroom?” or “why even think of those big theories?” So, this has made me more reflective, it has made me more thorough with my work. At the same time, if and when I fail, it’s alright to seek advice and it’s alright to go back to my mentor to ask why this did not work in a classroom. Both problem-based research and the action research, I find that these are pushing me to become a better teacher.
How would you evaluate the model of mentorship that’s in place within the TPP?
Sandra is our mentor, and she is a really experienced Ontario teacher. She has streamlined the programme, she gave it more structure and depth. When you work with Sandra, you are not intimidated by her. You are working with an expert who knows so much, but at the same time she gives you a chance to really apply yourself. She is a mentor for me when I am doing anything in the classroom – she is always providing me with constant feedback on my pedagogy and on my action research paper. Even in the intense Problem-Based Learning Sessions, where it gets a little crazy at times, Sandra is always there to nudge you in the right direction so you come to a conclusion.
How do you and your colleagues in the TPP work together and collaborate?
We are a very diverse group. Sitting with all of them has made me a better teacher in so many ways. It is not easy to admit sometimes that you don’t know things, but I get to learn from these people because their experience, our discussions, and the help we give each other is really great. We also collaborate outside the classroom – for example, if I have a doubt or find something challenging, I go to one of these colleagues and ask for their help. They are always there for me. We really push each other to reflect, to ask the right questions, which makes you think.
Can you talk more about the process of reflection that you have in your TPP group?
For us, reflection is about making yourself vulnerable in front of the whole group. It is not easy – it is not at all easy. We don’t reflect on a superficial level; we have to really apply ourselves in the entire process. When create our reflections, we have to share them with the whole group – and the group knows and understands who you are and gives you feedback. They push you to think along certain lines, and our mentors force us to think about the way we think – it becomes more about metacognition. The whole idea of learning from someone is that you have to be vulnerable and sometimes even fail, and then admit that you failed. When you draft that experience into a reflection, it makes you a better teacher. And definitely a better person.
How do you think the TPP has made you a better person in actual fact?
The way the TPP is designed, you become a reflective practitioner – that’s the goal! You teach in a classroom and you know that it’s not just a physical space, it’s much more than that. You cannot teach in isolation – you have to collaborate with other people, you have to go and ask for help. At the culmination, you really will become a better teacher. It’s a rigorous process, it’s an intense process, it’s a very reflective process. But the goal is that, ultimately, you will be the kind of teacher you want to be as well as an effective teacher.
Can you give us an example of how you’ve applied something you’ve learnt through the TPP in a classroom setting?
Right now, I am doing an action research, and a huge chunk of this is based on inquiry-based learning in a classroom. I’m teaching grade 6, and the unit I was dealing with was “did they live like us?” It is a lot about civilisations and the way people lived and interacted with their environment. All the research that I did during the Problem-Based Learning Sessions and my action research, I applied it in this classroom setting. I created the lesson plan and then got the feedback from my mentors. Then it gave me a chance to reflect on my practice: sometimes I tend to go a little overboard, and I got to see if my plan would work out. This is how you become a better teacher.
Is there anything else that you’d like to add about the TPP?
I’ll say, for the whole process, you have to be very open. You have to be open-minded to get into this process. It’s not easy just to acknowledge that you’re going though 18 months of training – you might feel intimated, or that your prior experience doesn’t matter. But that’s not the point. The point is to become a better teacher. If that is your goal, then this programme will work for you. The way this programme is designed is rigorous and beautiful. The most important point depends on you: what do you want to take away from this. And there is a lot, if you are really open to exploring.
Happy Teachers Day! - Tuesday 5th September 2017
Academy Junior & Senior Schools are celebrating Teachers Day through special assemblies with skits, songs and dances showing appreciation for their teachers on this special occasion.
Happy World Teachers Day! Friday 5th Oct 2018
As we end our first term of this academic year, the Academy wishes to express gratitude and appreciation for all our teachers. You are exceptional and you make a difference everyday.
International Exchanges
As the network of Aga Khan Academies becomes established, we will offer our students the opportunity to broaden their experience through exchanges with other Academies.
The Aga Khan Academy Maputo will include an international exchange programme as part of the Senior School curriculum. This will provide our students with the opportunity to study for an extended period in another of the approximately 18 (planned or currently under development) Academies in Africa, South and Central Asia, and the Middle East.
Campus life
Students from Maputo who go on exchange to another Academy will live in residential facilities in a safe, secure campus setting.
Campus life is an important part of the international exchange programme. Many of the least tangible but most important elements of an education – the development of practical leadership skills, the capacity to make ethical judgments, the ability to navigate through complex cultural settings – are formed outside the classroom. Mealtimes and other informal gatherings offer opportunities for discussion, meetings, language tables and study groups.
A number of students from Tajikistan are presently studying at the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa.
Benefits of study abroad
The International Baccalaureate programme will be implemented at all Aga Khan Academies. The common curriculum will allow students to study abroad without facing uncertainties regarding compatibility of course study or examinations.
While English is the medium of instruction at all Academies, our students are required to study another language as well. Foreign language learning will be greatly enhanced by immersion in that language through the exchange programme.
Students will also learn to appreciate and respect other nationalities, cultures and intellectual traditions through direct contact with people in other countries. They will broaden their worldview and learn to be at ease in multicultural settings.
For further information on the educational programme offered at the Aga Khan Academy Maputo, please visit the Academic Programme page.
International Exchanges
As the network of Aga Khan Academies becomes established, we will offer our students the opportunity to broaden their experience through exchanges with other Academies.
The Aga Khan Academy, Dar-es-Salaam will include an international exchange programme as part of the Senior School curriculum. This will provide our students with the opportunity to study for an extended period in another of the approximately 18 (planned or currently under development) Academies in Africa, South and Central Asia, and the Middle East.
Campus Life
Students from Dar-es-Salaam who go on exchange to another Academy will live in residential facilities in a safe, secure campus setting.
Campus life is an important part of the international exchange programme. Many of the least tangible but most important elements of an education—the development of practical leadership skills, the capacity to make ethical judgments, the ability to navigate through complex cultural settings—are formed outside the classroom. Mealtimes and other informal gatherings offer opportunities for discussion, meetings, language tables and study groups.
Benefits of Study Abroad
The International Baccalaureate programme will be implemented at all Aga Khan Academies. The common curriculum will allow students to study abroad without facing uncertainties regarding compatibility of course study or examinations.
While English is the medium of instruction at all Academies, our students are required to study another language as well. Foreign language learning will be greatly enhanced by immersion in that language through the exchange programme.
Students will also learn to appreciate and respect other nationalities, cultures and intellectual traditions through direct contact with people in other countries. They will broaden their worldview and learn to be at ease in multicultural settings.
For further information on the educational programme offered at the Aga Khan Academy, Dar-es-Salaam, please visit the Academic Programme page.
“Creating leaders”: Impact of an Aga Khan Schools education
During his time at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, Ham Serunjogi (Class of 2012) – CEO and co-founder of African fintech giant Chipper Cash – realised the importance of staying connected to something larger than himself and giving back to the world. This fuelled his remarkable success, and recently, the Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree was selected to serve as an advisor to the US President on African diaspora engagement.
“A big part of it was that I was in the residential programme,” Ham says. “My roommates and my house parents were a central part of my experience; they practically became family to me.”
Originally from Uganda, Ham became a part of the Academy’s residential programme, where students in Grades 6-12 from around the world live on campus and participate in different activities and leadership opportunities.
“The group of friends I had on the floor we lived on,” he continues, “I value those friendships deeply.”
Ham credits his dorm parent, Mr Bardai, as a large part of his amazing experience at the Academy.
“Mr Bardai was absolutely the best and looked out for me,” he said. “We remain close to this day.”
Along with his residential parents, Ham fondly recalls teachers such as Mr Kassam, who incorporated meals in his English lessons as they were described in books the students read in class, which encouraged the kids to bring in their own dishes for a potluck.
“We had a really fun time in class with Mr Kassam.”
Ham also recollects his role as President of the Academy’s Student Representative Council, which allowed him to lead the secondary school students and work closely with his peers and teachers.
“The Academies as a whole aim to instil in their education the notion of creating people who are leaders that can come back and help develop their local communities,” he explains. “The idea of being a net positive contributor to society – that was something I learnt strongly.”
“The more I think back on the ways the Academy made sure we were connected to the community, with the events we did outside of the Academy with other community members, that was a key reminder to not stay in an isolated group of privileged people or with people that aren’t connected to something larger than ourselves,” he explains.
“That really resonated with my time over there.”
From Kampala to Mombasa to Iowa
After completing the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme at the Academy, Ham’s journey leaped to another continent when he moved to Iowa in the US to study economics at the prestigious Grinnell College.
He was ready for the adventure, thanking his move to the Academy in Mombasa from his hometown in Kampala, Uganda as an insight into what it is like to move away.
“[My time at the Academy] was the first time in my life I lived away from home,” he says. “It was like a nice trial period before moving further away.”
“I was excited to move to Grinnell, to Iowa, for all the big and small things like seeing snow for the first time,” he reflects. “Just being around a new environment, new culture and a new group of people was very exciting.”
The creation of Chipper Cash
Following his graduation from Grinnell and a two-year stint at Meta (formerly Facebook) came a pivotal stage in Ham’s life. In 2018, he and his co-founder Maijid Moujaled established Chipper Cash, a financial technology, or fintech, company offering several products and services to people in Africa, such as local and cross-border payments, cards, stocks, airtime and data, and bill pay.
“I wanted to make an impact on my local community with what I know best,” Ham says. “I wanted to create a solution that might solve a problem for people in Uganda.”
The CEO met his co-founder at Grinnell, who wanted to create a similar solution for the people of Ghana, where he was originally from.
“It was easy to align our thinking because we wanted to start the company to check some boxes – what needs to be done and where?”
Chipper Cash now has over five million customers operating in countries including Nigeria, Rwanda, Ghana, Uganda and the US. It has been featured in several global financial publications as well as news channels including BBC, CNN, Quartz, Apple and Forbes, in which Ham was named as one of the honourees of the Forbes 30 Under 30 Finance List of 2023.
Serving on the US President’s advisory council
In September 2023, Ham was appointed to serve on the Inaugural President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States. The Advisory Council is tasked to advise the US President on a range of issues, including how to strengthen relations between Africa and the US, promote trade and investment, and build educational exchanges.
“I definitely pinch myself every night just to make sure I’m not dreaming,” he laughs. “If you’d ask me at any point in my life if I would ever be an advisor to the US President, there’s no way I’d have thought that’s possible.”
Ham highlights what he is most excited about for his role as an advisor.
“One, it’s an incredible group of people to be a part of,” he says. “And two, in today’s world, Africa is the fastest growing continent and they’re strong partners with the US. We will help advise the President to form policy and help drive US-African relations and investment further.”
“Policy is going to affect billions of people, and if we do our job well, we’ll make a positive impact on the world. If that’s all I ever do in my life, I’ll be very happy with myself.”
Giving back to the Academy
Ham feels fortunate to be in a position where he can give back to the place that started it all. The alumnus consistently provides the Academy in Mombasa with support by coming back to address graduates, creating videos and content to promote the Academy, or even donating to support current and future students.
“It’s a special place to me,” Ham describes. “I was fortunate enough to give the 2021 graduation commencement address, and the theme of my remarks was the realisation of the opportunities I’ve been lucky to receive, and the best way to repay them is to help repair the world.”
Khushboo Khoja (Class of 2016): Giving back to communities
“My experience at the Academy was very significant as it made me realise that I am interested in working with social issues and helping communities,” reflects Khushboo Khoja, a 2016 graduate from the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad.
Her passion for helping others, which was sparked through service learning initiatives she participated in at the Academy, is something Khushboo has taken with her to university. She is currently enrolled in the Faculty of Social Science at the University of Western Ontario in Canada, and recently completed her first year of post-secondary education. As a recipient of a tuition waiver through the Aga Khan Academies–Ontario tuition waiver programme, Khushboo is thankful for the opportunity to attend a university in Canada: “When I found out that I got the scholarship, it was a very grateful moment because it would change my whole life. The fact that I am able to get an education of this kind in Canada helps me build my future and enhances my entire quality of life.”
During her time at the Aga Khan Academy, Khushboo was able to help others improve their quality of life by volunteering at a government school for four years teaching English and math: “I always looked forward to finishing class and going there because those girls were so inspiring. Most of the girls didn’t come from as privileged backgrounds and didn’t have everything they needed, but were so happy and always so motivated and satisfied with everything they had.”
Khushboo continued this work through a summer internship in a village in India, where she learned more about the importance of education and awareness regarding sanitation and immunization: “While engaging with the community of the village and learning about their health and hygienic needs, we conducted school plays to spread awareness about the importance of healthy alcohol-free and tobacco-free lives. The special bond that I built with the people of the village motivates and inspires me to keep learning from the diverse communities I am surrounded with and making significant contributions in whatever ways I can. I am glad to have been opened to a new perspective in which a place does not necessarily have to be changed but has to first be accepted and appreciated.”
Khushboo attributes her ability to take her classroom learning and put it into practice to her time at the Academy: “I feel like my experience at the Academy allowed me to perceive in a more holistic and practical way. The experience was not just about what we were reading in books or learning, but also about incorporating values and ethics in our daily lives and applying our knowledge to better ourselves and the community. The integrated learning experience helped me learn how to learn, which I now carry with me wherever I go and whenever I am learning.”
During her short time in Canada, Khushboo has already begun making a difference in the community around her. Her volunteer activities include helping at the Merrymount Family Support and Crisis Centre, where she assists with counselling parents and children who are in crisis and/or experiencing times of transition. She was also elected to the executive team for the Ismaili Students Association as the ‘frosh representative’ where she has the opportunity to organise educational and social events for the members of the association: “I am the representative for the first-year students. I enjoy meeting new people from different cultures yet from the same community - the beautiful blend makes me appreciate the pluralistic atmosphere that’s created.”
She has also successfully applied for a leadership position on campus as a residence advisor where one of her primary roles will be to foster a community atmosphere in the residence. When not busy studying or volunteering, Khushboo also plays indoor soccer on the intramural team at Western.
One of Khushboo’s passions is working with women and children, promoting health and education. For Khushboo, going back to India and continuing this work is incredibly important: “I want to bring awareness and enrich the accessibility of resources. Sometimes it’s not about changing things but rather bringing a new perspective to people that may help them. Depending on the context, approaches to the occurring difficulties of people have to be altered, with broadening horizons.”
By Karina Hussein
Coronavirus Update
The campus is closed but the Academy remains open! Our exceptional Aga Khan Academy education continues to be offered to our students though a well-supported Distance Learning Programme. Combining the best in guided online learning with opportunities for independent study and collaborative engagement, this programme allows our students to adapt, to thrive and to excel, wherever they are!
Primary Years Programme
The Junior School of the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad is an International Baccalaureate World School and has been authorised for the Primary Years Programme (PYP).
Foundations for lifelong learning
We offer the PYP for students in grades 1–5 (aged 6–10). The programme focuses on the development of the whole child. It is geared towards creating independent, confident and respectful learners.
Our classroom curriculum addresses the children's social, physical, cultural and ethical development while giving them a strong foundation in all the major areas of knowledge.
The curriculum consists of five essential elements:
- concepts
- knowledge
- skills
- attitude
- action.
The core subjects we cover include English language, mathematics, social studies, science and technology. Our programme also includes a beginning computing course, physical education, music, art and Hindi.
Students and teachers explore questions in all subject areas using an interactive, student-centred approach. The knowledge element of the curriculum is enhanced by six themes that are studied across the various subject disciplines. These are:
- who we are
- where we are in place and time
- how we express ourselves
- how the world works
- how we organise ourselves
- sharing the planet.
These transdisciplinary themes of global significance are addressed through six units of inquiry at each grade level, and this forms the school’s programme of inquiry. The programme of inquiry is the conceptual curriculum framework for the PYP. The transdisciplinary themes ensure that they are "revisited throughout the students’ years of PYP so that they are immersed in broad ranging, in-depth, articulated curriculum content” (Making the PYP Happen: A curriculum framework for international primary education).
The PYP develops well-rounded students who are well versed in all areas of knowledge. They learn to be intellectually curious, principled, caring, open-minded, well balanced and reflective learners.
Please visit the Admission Requirements page or contact us to find out more about applying to the PYP at the Academy.
Academy swimmers win 29 medals at inter-school competition
9 gold, 15 silver and 5 bronze medals were won by our Junior & Senior School swimming team at the Oakridge International School annual interschool swimming competition last week. A big round of applause!
