Just as academic life is characterised by a broad spectrum of opportunities and people, so is the life outside the classroom. And that is why the Karachi Higher Secondary School (KHS) offers children a blend of both scholastic and extracurricular activities, preparing them to excel in today’s dynamic environment.
“The school not only emphasises on promoting quality education, but also accentuates the development of talent and aptitude in an individual,” says Parveen Kassim, founding member and current principal.
The KHS was founded as a co-education institution in 1985. It started off and has remained an invitation to learn for students from all walks of life.
Offering matriculation and O’ Level systems of education, the KHS provides a curriculum starting from pre-primary to high school. “The school faculty comprises highly qualified, experienced and trained experts who not only get to know you, but also are alert to your individual potential, and challenge you to achieve your personal best,” explains Kassim.
The KHS was one of the first few schools to offer computer education to its students. Keeping in mind the rapid growth in the technological industry, the children are given coaching since grade one so as to make them well versed in this field. In 1987, the school organised the very first countrywide seminar on computer education for schools in association with the Pakistan Association for Computer Education in Schools. In 1998, the school again conducted a seminar on internet and education and invited Susan Sley, a computer resources head from the US.
On October 22, 1999, the KHS became one of the first schools in the country to have launched its own website: www.khs.edu.pk.
The KHS was involved in the formation of Pakistan’s first and only international under-13 baseball team, which represented the country in the Far East Little League Baseball tournaments held in Taiwan, Indonesia and Philippines in 1994, 1995, and 1996 respectively.
The trips are mostly financed by the league management. In 1997, the team attended the Baseball Camp at Williamsport in Pennsylvania, USA.
In the same year, the school was invited to participate in the Quanta ‘97 and Beam Robotics ‘97, the third international competition for sciences, held in Lucknow, India, organised by the City Montessori Intermediate College, in which participants from all over the world compete to exchange ideas, knowledge, and technical know-how, simultaneously learning and sharing the experience.
The school went on to secure the second position in English debate, first position in folk dance competition and the best speaker award for English debate in the Quanta ‘98 and Beam Robotics ‘98.
At year-end, the school holds its traditional annual talent show where more than 500 children perform. All are encouraged to participate in producing, writing, and acting in plays and other performances.
The school is committed to being accessible to students without regard to their economic or financial circumstances. In addition, the school offers financial aid and a number of scholarships based on academic merit and leadership potential. Special scholarships are provided to those who excel in athletics, art and music. The school welcomes applications from transfer and international students.
“When I succeed in communicating clearly and grading fairly, I am not only doing my job well as an educator, but also teaching students something about being responsible,” says Kassim.
“And my belief is that they will remember my lesson long after the assignments and grades have been forgotten. We educate our students to make a difference to the world they live in.”
