International School of Kabul
Encyclopedia
The International School of Kabul (ISK) is a private co-educational K-12
school in Kabul
, Afghanistan
. Originally founded in 2003 under the name of Kabul International Academy (KIA), the International School of Kabul provides a college-prep level U.S. (English speaking) curriculum to the children of expatriate families within the international development community, as well as to repatriated and resident Afghans. A gift from the American People in the form of a USAID grant in 2005 provided the necessary fiscal support to successfully expand the school, which was then re-chartered under the name ISK.
Statistical Information:
In 2008, ISK became the first accredited K-12 school in Afghanistan under a full five-year accreditation issued by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
(MSA). Also in 2008, ISK received a twenty year registration under the leadership of the former Minister of Education, Hanif Atmar, at a special signing ceremony conducted at the Ministry of Education. Former First Lady Laura Bush
and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
both took a special interest in ISK during past visits to Kabul and met with administrative representatives of the school.
As of 2011, ISK has more than 85% Afghans enrolled among the 350+ students, and has been credited for five graduating classes with 62 alumni, of whom, more than 85% are now enrolled in post-secondary and graduate universities around the world. To their credit, over the past six years the faculty members of ISK have provided more than 1.6M combined hours of classroom instruction to Afghan students.
Special Programs:
In addition to academics, ISK offers athletics and a full performing arts program to include music, drama, and dance. ISK serves as the host site and parent organization for the Kabul Dance Studio. ISK has also represented Afghanistan with the Model United Nations
(MUN) program for the past four years at Georgetown University
in Qatar
.
Historic Activities:
In 2009 ISK participated in a collaborative international writing program with Diamond Valley College near Kinglake, Australia. As a result of this project twenty-nine ISK students were published in a book titled, "1000 Pencils: From Kinglake to Kabul." This project was the result of a combined efforts of Australian-based authors David J Williams and Neil Grant. The book has been released in a 2nd edition under the title, "From Kinglake to Kabul" and is available through commercial sources.
Also in 2010, ISK hosted actress and and Grammy Award winning singer Natalie Cole
along with director/actress Sonia Nassery Cole
for the Afghan release of the film, "The Black Tulip
."
K-12
K–12 is a designation for the sum of primary and secondary education. It is used in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand where P–12 is also commonly used...
school in Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Originally founded in 2003 under the name of Kabul International Academy (KIA), the International School of Kabul provides a college-prep level U.S. (English speaking) curriculum to the children of expatriate families within the international development community, as well as to repatriated and resident Afghans. A gift from the American People in the form of a USAID grant in 2005 provided the necessary fiscal support to successfully expand the school, which was then re-chartered under the name ISK.
Statistical Information:
In 2008, ISK became the first accredited K-12 school in Afghanistan under a full five-year accreditation issued by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools is a voluntary, peer-based, non-profit association dedicated to educational excellence and improvement through peer evaluation and accreditation...
(MSA). Also in 2008, ISK received a twenty year registration under the leadership of the former Minister of Education, Hanif Atmar, at a special signing ceremony conducted at the Ministry of Education. Former First Lady Laura Bush
Laura Bush
Laura Lane Welch Bush is the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. She was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009. She has held a love of books and reading since childhood and her life and education have reflected that interest...
and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice is an American political scientist and diplomat. She served as the 66th United States Secretary of State, and was the second person to hold that office in the administration of President George W. Bush...
both took a special interest in ISK during past visits to Kabul and met with administrative representatives of the school.
As of 2011, ISK has more than 85% Afghans enrolled among the 350+ students, and has been credited for five graduating classes with 62 alumni, of whom, more than 85% are now enrolled in post-secondary and graduate universities around the world. To their credit, over the past six years the faculty members of ISK have provided more than 1.6M combined hours of classroom instruction to Afghan students.
Special Programs:
In addition to academics, ISK offers athletics and a full performing arts program to include music, drama, and dance. ISK serves as the host site and parent organization for the Kabul Dance Studio. ISK has also represented Afghanistan with the Model United Nations
Model United Nations
Model United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about current events, topics in international relations, diplomacy and the United Nations agenda....
(MUN) program for the past four years at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
.
Historic Activities:
In 2009 ISK participated in a collaborative international writing program with Diamond Valley College near Kinglake, Australia. As a result of this project twenty-nine ISK students were published in a book titled, "1000 Pencils: From Kinglake to Kabul." This project was the result of a combined efforts of Australian-based authors David J Williams and Neil Grant. The book has been released in a 2nd edition under the title, "From Kinglake to Kabul" and is available through commercial sources.
Also in 2010, ISK hosted actress and and Grammy Award winning singer Natalie Cole
Natalie Cole
Natalie Maria Cole , is an American singer, songwriter and performer. The daughter of jazz legend Nat King Cole, Cole rode to musical success in the mid-1970s as an R&B artist with the hits "This Will Be ", "Inseparable" and "Our Love"...
along with director/actress Sonia Nassery Cole
Sonia Nassery Cole
Sonia Nassery Cole is an Afghan-American activist, socialite, film director and actress.-Early life:Cole was born in Afghanistan. She escaped the county during the Soviet occupation by walking into neighboring Pakistan, aided by a nomad across the desert which her parents had entrusted to guide...
for the Afghan release of the film, "The Black Tulip
The Black Tulip
The Black Tulip is a historical novel written by Alexandre Dumas, père.-Plot:The story begins with a historical event — the 1672 lynching of the Dutch Grand Pensionary Johan de Witt and his brother Cornelis, by a wild mob of their own countrymen — considered by many as one of the most painful...
."
External links
- ISK Website (English)
- Middle States Association website (English)
- USAID Afghanistan website (English)
- http://qatar.sfs.georgetown.edu/campus/organizations/mun/ (English)