The Aga Khan Mzizima Secondary School,
Dar es Salaam

In a school comprising of young people from diverse cultural backgrounds and belief systems, respect is a key theme for the individual student.

Curriculum: Overview

In keeping with our mission statement, we prepare our students for their role in an increasingly challenging, cosmopolitan and rapidly changing world.

In a school comprising of young people from diverse cultural backgrounds and belief systems, respect is a key theme for the individual student. We aim for our students to develop as enquiring, creative, reflective and motivated learners.

Our teachers tailor their teaching to individual needs, to encourage all children to flourish, to grow in self-confidence and above all, to fulfill their potential.

To this effect, an open partnership between the parents and school is actively encouraged.

Middle School

The programme comprises of students between 11-13 years, a three-year transitory program to IGCSE and later to IB DP.

Subjects for the Middle School Programme are:

  • Mathematics
  • English
  • Science
  • Humanities
  • Personal Social and Health Education(PSHE)
  • Modern Languages (French/Swahili)
  • ICT
  • Art/Music
  • Physical Education

O Levels

Cambridge IGCSE is the world’s most popular international qualification for 14 to 16 year-old.

It was developed over 25 years ago, tried, tested and trusted by schools worldwide. It is also recognized by leading universities and employers throughout the world. Cambridge IGCSE offers a flexible curriculum, with a choice of over 70 subjects categorized in five subject groups (themes) for any combinations.

At Mzizima, the following subjects have been selected from the five subject groups:

Group 1: Languages
English (as First Language), French and Swahili (Cambridge GCE O-Level)

Group 2: Humanities and Social Sciences
Geography, History, Economics, Literature in English.

Group 3: Sciences
Biology, Chemistry and Physics

Group 4: Mathematics
Mathematics

Group 5: Creative, Technical and Vocational
Business Studies, Art and Design and ICT

Assessment

Continuous assessment is done by the school. The final assessment (Cambridge International Examination; CIE) takes place at the end of the course and includes written, oral and practical assessment.

[ Further information ]

IB Diploma Programme

The IB Diploma Programme (DP) is an academically challenging, rigorous and balanced pre-university programme of study for students aged 16-19.

The programme aims to develop students who have excellent breadth and depth of knowledge – students flourish physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically.

DP Curriculum

The DP curriculum is made up of six subject groups and the DP core, comprising of theory of knowledge (TOK), creativity, activity, service (CAS) and the extended essay (EE). The six subject groups are: studies in language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics, visual arts. There are different courses within each subject group.

Through the DP core, students reflect on the nature of knowledge, complete independent research and undertake a project that often involves community service.

Subjects Offered at AKMSS, Dar es Salaam

  • Biology HL/SL
  • Business Management HL/SL
  • Chemistry HL/SL
  • Digital Society HL/SL
  • Economics HL/SL
  • English Language and Literature HL/SL
  • Environmental Systems and Societies SL
  • French ab initio
  • French B SL
  • Geography HL/SL
  • History HL/SL
  • Kiswahili HL/SL
  • Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL/SL
  • Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations HL/SL
  • Physics HL/SL
  • Psychology HL/SL
  • Visual Arts HL/SL

Assessment and Exams

The IB uses both external and internal assessment in the DP.

External Assessment
Examinations form the basis of the assessment for most courses. This is because of their high level of objectivity and reliability.

Internal Assessment
Teacher assessment is also used for most courses. This includes: oral work in languages, fieldwork in geography, laboratory work in the sciences, investigations in mathematics, artistic performances.

For further information about the curriculum visit www.ibo.org.

National Curriculum

NECTA is a National Curriculum of Secondary Education and consists of optional and core subjects.

Here in the Aga Khan Mzizima Secondary School, the students join Form 1 at the age of 13 years old and Form 6 at the age of 18 years.

The subjects in Form 1 and 2 include Mathematics, English, Physics, Chemistry, Kiswahili, Biology, History, Geography, Civics, Commerce and Book Keeping, Information and Computer Studies and Physical Education.

The core subjects in Form 3 and 4 include Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, Biology, Civics, History, and Geography.

The optional subjects in Form 3 and 4 include Physics, Chemistry, Commerce, Book Keeping Information and Computer Studies and Physical Education.

In A-Level, subjects offered are Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Accounts, Economics, Advance Mathematics and Basic Mathematics, Economics, Geography, Commerce, History, English Language and General Studies.

Students are permitted to take all National Examinations in Form Two, Four and Six, including Tanzania Heads of Secondary School Association (TAHOSA) Examinations.

For further information about the Tanzania national curriculum visit www.moe.go.tz or www.necta.go.tz.