The Aga Khan Schools in Kenya celebrate IB Diploma Class of 2025

By Pauline Ongaji

More than 140 students from the Aga Khan Schools in Kenya celebrated their graduation from the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in ceremonies held on May 23 and 24.

The ceremonies were held for the Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi, at the Ismaili Jamatkhana and Pavilion Complex on May 23, and the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa at the institution on May 24.

They marked the culmination of years of rigorous study and personal growth for the cohorts representing a rich tapestry of cultures, nationalities and ambitions.

The graduating classes epitomised the schools’ commitment to diversity and inclusion, with students hailing from across East Africa and beyond, including Kenya, the United States, Uganda, Pakistan, India, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Canada and Tanzania.

The events were also live-streamed to an international audience of over 5,000 viewers, and included performances from students and staff, heartfelt moments, and keynote addresses.

Ahead of the ceremonies, the graduates participated in a symbolic tradition – the pinning ceremony – where each graduate was awarded a pin from their school. The pin symbolises not only their successful completion of the IB Diploma Programme, but also their formal induction into the Aga Khan Schools alumni network, which spans across geographies and generations as far back as the early 1900s.

Graduates of the IB diploma Class of 2025 have earned acceptances at some of the world’s most prestigious institutions, including Tufts University, McGill University, Strathmore University, Aga Khan University, the University of Hong Kong, Imperial College London, the University of Toronto, and the University of Warwick, among others.

The global connection of the schools was affirmed by the presence of President and Vice-Chancellor of Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, Dr Graham Carr, who delivered the keynote address in Nairobi; and President of Huron University in London, Canada, who delivered the keynote address in Mombasa.

Dr Carr noted: “The kind of education you have received is about developing curiosity, an appetite for inquiry, but also a sense of tolerance and ideally, empathy.” He went on: “If you neglect these qualities, they weaken, and you lose trust in them. Education is ultimately about hope – for personal achievement and for society. We are here today because we want hope to prevail, even when realities seem bleak.”

Dr Carr also highlighted the fruitful collaboration between Concordia University and the Aga Khan Schools for over a decade, which has included initiatives to improve digital literacy and numeracy in early years and primary schools across Kenya and Bangladesh.

Concordia, which is marking its 50^th anniversary this year, has awarded 18 undergraduate scholarships worth $2.6 million to Aga Khan Schools’ graduates so far, reinforcing their shared values of access, diversity, and leadership development.

While in Nairobi, Dr Carr reconnected with a recent graduate of Concordia, Tamara Werle, who is also a product of the Aga Khan Schools system.

Tamara, the first graduate under the Concordia–Aga Khan Schools partnership scholarship, shared her inspiring journey from the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa to Concordia’s Montreal campus. She described how the leadership-focused environments of both institutions shaped her academic path and fuelled her passion for mental health advocacy.

At Concordia, she led Stronger Than Stigma, a mental health club, organising campus-wide events to support students’ well-being.

Reflecting on the transition from Kenya to Canada, Tamara praised the supportive, diverse, and student-centred atmosphere at Concordia, and highlighted

Montreal’s safety, accessibility, and cultural vibrancy. In her words: “If I had to sum it up in one word, I’d say opportunity.”

For more than a decade, Concordia University’s collaboration with the Aga Khan Schools has centred on developing and implementing digital literacy and numeracy tools, initially launched as a research initiative at the university. These tools are used in Kenyan and Bangladeshi public schools, and in 2017, the work earned a prestigious UNESCO prize, a testament to its global contributions to literacy development.

The Concordia-Aga Khan Schools partnership is grounded in shared values – quality education, leadership, and diversity. President Carr emphasised the importance of mutual benefit in such collaborations, noting that the global reach of the Aga Khan Schools had enabled Concordia to expand its impact across multiple continents.

President Carr reinforced Concordia University’s commitment to foreign students, emphasising Canada’s welcoming stance, even amid recent global shifts.

Sharing this view is President of Huron University, Dr Barry Craig. The university is recognised for promoting an education model that blends academic rigor with ethical leadership and real-world experiences. Dr Craig’s recent engagements include outreach to students from the Aga Khan Schools, in pursuit of the university’s mission of nurturing “leaders with heart”.

Founded nearly 170 years ago, Huron University stands out in Canada’s education landscape for being deeply committed to character development, beyond academic excellence.

“We look for intellect, yes,” said Dr Craig, “but also character. A straight-A student who doesn’t care about others is not our ideal candidate. We want students who lead, who serve, who grow.”

This philosophy informs not only the admissions process, but also the institution’s approach to scholarships and campus culture.

One of Huron University’s signature features is its guaranteed paid internships for all students. These internships span the globe and provide students with hands-on experience before they graduate. “That’s why nearly all of our graduates are employed right after university,” Dr Craig said.

Among the most powerful testaments to the university’s impact are the stories of its students from Kenya, many of whom were introduced to the university through the its partnership with the Aga Khan Schools, providing full-tuition and partial scholarships to IB students.

Carl Lubano, an alumnus of the Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi, and a recent graduate of Huron University where he was also Student Council President, embodies the transformative potential of learning at the institution. Carl initially struggled to settle in when he arrived in Canada, but the warmth and intimacy of the campus helped him thrive. He co-founded the Black Students’ Association, expanded its membership, and became a role model for others.

His academic journey evolved as well. Originally set on economics, he pivoted to a double major in economics and finance after internships sparked a deeper interest in the finance sector. He is now beginning a job in Canada but hopes to return to Kenya in the future to make a difference.

Iqra Devlani, another alumna of the Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi, is currently pursuing an Honours Specialisation in Psychology with a Minor in Disability Studies. A top-performing IB student, she was drawn to Huron University not just for its scholarships but for its robust research and mental health programming.

“I applied to nearly 30 schools around the world,” Iqra recalls. “But through the Aga Khan Schools partnership with Huron, I was able to benefit from the scholarship and academic opportunities.”

Her work with Huron’s Wellness Centre and Parkinson Society internship has already shaped her professional ambitions. “Back home, psychology students don’t always have access to paid or structured internships. At Huron, those opportunities are built into the system.”

Dr Craig emphasised that diversity is not just a buzzword at Huron, but it is also a foundational pillar. “Your roommate could be from Kenya, northern India, or inner-city Toronto,” he said. “And in that diversity, you realise two things: we are fundamentally the same, and embracing difference is what prepares you to lead in a global world.”

For the education they go through, Aga Khan Schools graduates thrive worldwide, quickly receiving university placements and scholarships in East Africa, North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia.

About the Aga Khan Schools in Kenya

The Aga Khan Schools is a network of 200 schools, eight hostels and more than 100 non-formal education programme centres across 11 countries in East Africa and South and Central Asia.

In 1918, the first Aga Khan school in Kenya was opened. Today, the Aga Khan Schools operates six schools in Kenya, located in Nairobi (2), Eldoret (1), Kisumu (1) and Mombasa (2).

These schools either offer the Kenya National Curriculum or the International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes.

The Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi, was one of the first private schools in Kenya to transition from the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) to the IB in 2000. It is also the only authorised International Baccalaureate continuum school in East Africa from nursery to secondary.

The Aga Khan Academy Mombasa is also part of the integrated network of Aga Khan Academies, including campuses in Hyderabad (India), Maputo (Mozambique) and Dhaka (Bangladesh). They offer the International Baccalaureate programmes from nursery to secondary, with three Academies offering residential programmes.

Both the Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi and the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa consistently outperform the global average in the International Baccaluareate Diploma Programme exam results, underscoring the Aga Khan Schools continued commitment to academic excellence.