Developing Essential Skills Through AKU-EB’s Middle School Programme

​Dr Naveed Yousuf, Associate Director, Assessment and Research, Aga Khan University Examination Board (AKU-EB), conducted a formal presentation titled, “Developing 21st Century Skills through Project-based learning: Implementation, Assessment, Impact” at the Aga Khan University Stadium Road campus. 

The presentation, which was organised by the Department for Educational Development in collaboration with the Department of Continuing Professional Education, focused on AKU-EB’s Middle School Programme (MSP). The MSP is aimed at developing essential student competencies such as Communication Skills, Information Gathering, Interpersonal Skills, Critical Thinking, etc, as well as preparing students for secondary education. It represents an integrated, project-based form of interdisciplinary learning offered by AKU-EB to students in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades. A total of six projects per grade are offered each year, out of which schools may choose any four aligned with their subject syllabi. AKU-EB also offers teacher support and training specific to the MSP, in order to ensure that it is implemented correctly. The competencies that MSP aims to develop are considered components of essential 21st century skills, which equip students to not only critically engage with their subject material but to also become lifelong learners who can perceive the interconnectedness of all subject they go on to study. 

“This research showed the high reliability of MSP competency scores utilised by AKU-EB as the programme’s assessment,” said Dr Yousuf. “In addition, it proved that MSP competency scores of Grade 8 students could serve as a predictor for student performance in Grade 9, meaning the first year of secondary school during which students across Pakistan typically begin their official board examination studies.”

Director, AKU-EB, Dr Shehzad Jeeva, also stated: “We began the process of conducting this research two years ago, and as we started to analyse the data our excitement grew. We knew, even as far back as then, that these findings were groundbreaking.”

The event’s audience was comprised of faculty from AKU, middle school teachers from Karachi and heads of various schools, including those both affiliated and unaffiliated with AKU-EB. In addition, a delegation from the West African Examination Council (WAEC) who had been visiting AKU-EB over the past three days in order to exchange ideas on best assessment practices was present.  

The presentation was immediately followed by a panel discussion, comprising Head, National Office, Ghana, WAEC, V. Rev. Dr Sam N. N. Ollennu; Principal, Bai Virbaiji Soparivala Parsi High School, Ms Kermin S. Parak; Honorary Secretary, Board of Governors, Al-Murtaza School Network, Mr Jameel Yusuf S. St.; Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean, Institute of Public Health, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Dr Lubna Baig, and moderated by Senior Instructor, Educational Development, AKU, Mr Azam Afzal.