KARACHI: There was nostalgia. There were cheers. There were also a few tears as Sultan Mohamed Shah (SMS) Aga Khan School completed 50 years.

The school’s golden jubilee celebrations at the Aga Khan University auditorium on Tuesday brought on all kinds of emotions, especially for its old students and proud teachers as they walked down memory lane.

“I am where I am just because of my education at SMS Aga Khan School. I cannot forget when Ms Fatima, our science teacher, brought goat lungs to class to explain to us the respiratory system. Another fond memory is of cooking and eating delicious food in the home economics classes and playing for the school band,” said Nasreen Alwani, who graduated from the school in 1984, and who is now assistant manager at the AKU’s Nursing Education Services.

“Every teacher contributed to my success. All credit for my achievements goes to them. They embedded good values such as hard work, honesty, courage, helping and respecting our elders, in us,” said Yasin Akber Ali, who graduated from the school in 1998, and is a successful banker today.

A short video on the history of the school containing the recollections of teachers and former students was also shown. It included an interview of one of the school’s most iconic principals, Sakar Datoo, who toured the school and noted the many changes that had occurred since she left in the 1980s.

Established in 1965, the school now popularly known as SMS bears the name of Sir Sultan Mohamed Shah Aga Khan III, who established over 200 schools, the first of which were in Zanzibar and Balochistan here.

Since its inception, SMS Aga Khan School has gone through several transformations. It was initially a community-based school but later it started taking in other children from other communities as well. It was also nationalised in the 1970s but was handed back by the government, although in terrible condition with damaged infrastructure and demoralised teachers. In order to turn it around, a school improvement programme was launched in collaboration with the Aga Khan Foundation.

Over 3,000 students are currently enrolled in the school with classes ranging from the pre-primary to the secondary level. Its students sit for their secondary school certificate through the Aga Khan University Examination Board.

The golden jubilee celebration saw students of the school presenting songs and tableau on various themes. In addition, shield and merit certificates were awarded to about 30 of them who attained the A1 grade in the Secondary School Certificate Examination.

The pre-primary students performing lively dances at the start of the programme were extremely cute. The students graduating in their smart green robes and graduating caps with the silver tussle on the other side made many a parent marvel at how quickly they grow up.

Earlier, Farhan Bhayani, a former student of SMS Aga Khan School and the CEO of AKES, P, an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network running many Aga Khan schools, welcomed the guests and recognised the profound impact and contribution of the teachers of the school in his success. He further highlighted new initiatives under way at the school which include a technology studio built to integrate information and communication technology into the syllabus and early childhood development programmes.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2016