The Aga Khan Development Network has decided to set up an international school of excellence on the outskirts of Hyderabad.
The institution is likely to cost Rs 400 crore.
Prince Karim Aga Khan, the 49th Imam (spiritual head) of the Ismaili Muslim community, accompanied by officials of the Aga Khan Foundation, inspected a 50-acre site offered by the Andhra Pradesh government near Hyderabad-Srisailam highway, about 8 km from the city, on Wednesday afternoon.
Later, the prince had a brief meeting with Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy to discuss the project details. Aga Khan Academy for Education will be set up under the aegis of Aga Khan Education Services, a wing of Aga Khan Development Network.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting with the Aga Khan, the chief minister said that the Aga Khan Foundation has decided to associate with AP in a big way in undertaking mutually beneficial activities.
"The foundation agreed to start an institute of excellence at Hyderabad. It will be an international-level school offering education up to 10th standard. The school will start functioning from July 2006. They also decided to start an institute to train engineering teachers at international level. The prince also expressed interest to look into the feasibility of starting a nursing school here," Dr Reddy said.
The chief minister said that the government has earmarked 50 acres of land on the city outskirts and the orders on allotment of the site for the foundation have been issued. A committee of officials has been formed to expedite the process of implementation of these projects.
"They also want to participate in many programmes in Andhra Pradesh. The prince is expected to come again in January for mutual discussions. I hope that his visit will bring lot of benefits to the state," Dr Reddy added.
Prince Aga Khan and his entourage arrived in the city in the afternoon by a special aircraft and visited the site earmarked by the government. After the meeting with the chief minister, the prince left for France in the night.
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