Principal’s Message
For students deciding where to do their A levels, this is a time when you must decide wisely.
These two years are precious and a time of self-reflection and realisation. The environment you choose must be in sync with your hopes and aims, as this is one of those choices that seem more important in hindsight and can change the course of your journey.
The Lyceum School is a labour of love, a tribute to life and an expression of gratitude to God from all those who have played a role in its creation and development. It is a school that has withstood the test of time and has tried to maintain its commitment to excellence, to its philosophy and to its students. The Lyceum derives its name from The Lukeion, a garden in which Aristotle taught his students to think, imagine, reflect and deflect. Principles that we too practice and hold dear.
The Lyceum, like all institutions, is not made of brick and mortar, but it is the lifeblood that pulsates with its students’ ambitions, hopes, dreams, angst and their highs and lows. The bedrock upon which the sands of time continue to write stories; lived and unlived.
When one talks to Lyceum alumni, that include all those who graduated last year to those who left thirty two years ago, they talk about everlasting bonds and memorable experiences that define who they are and the shift that took place in the way they began to view life. The Lyceum may not be for everyone, but it is a place for those looking for a fresh perspective and a broader and deeper understanding of life.
It is at The Lyceum that students are challenged to develop high levels of capabilities across a wide range of activities – academics, sports, the arts, creativity and community life. It is here that students are exposed to a diverse range of perspectives. This broad, all-encompassing experience is one that we believe prepares our students to be major contributors to local and international communities and to achieve beyond the ordinary.
There is no doubt that when students join The Lyceum, they become part of a legacy with a definite philosophy that is defined by its commitment to its ideals and its ethos balanced by tradition and modernity. Should you choose to join us, we will welcome you, knowing that these two years will be your most memorable and meaningful phase of life.
Wishing you the best as you transition to high school.
Sincerely,
Scheherazade Asdar Ahmad
Principal
The Lyceum
The Lyceum
In 1987, The Lyceum opened its doors, as the first purely A level focused school in the country. Since then it has led in all aspects of holistic development for students of that age.
It is located in a beautiful building, set in Karachi’s green and historic neighbourhood of Old Clifton. Our relatively small size ensures that we offer a warm, friendly and enriching environment to all our students. Once at The Lyceum, students become part of a lively, close-knit and devoted community of students, faculty and staff, each one contributing to the school’s unfolding legacy.
The Lyceum’s commitment to universal education and equity ensures that all students who fulfil our rigorous criteria (academic and otherwise), regardless of their ability to pay fees, study at The Lyceum.
The school’s rich co-curricular programme’s unparalleled focus on experiential learning, the deeply embedded sense of community engagement fostered in our students and the tradition of mentoring complements learning beyond the classroom.
With a distinctive reputation for producing competent, resourceful and self-motivated learners who have excelled, its international appeal to universities is a long and distinguished history that honours and cultivates academic integrity, independent study and responsible learning.
The success of Lyceum graduates across the world – both as professionals and as members of society – is testament to the transformative power of value-based learning and experience carefully handed down from generation to generation.
The Lyceum is a community of love, innovative practice and social justice. It is a space where we courageously swim against the social current each day in the dynamic way we teach, in the responsible way we shape and shepherd young minds and in the way the school empowers all the people who have the privilege to be associated with it. I experienced The Lyceum as an oasis of social responsibility, an undying commitment to integrity with a deeply humanistic space of learning.”
– Uzma Shakir, Founder Member and Director Studies 2018-2021
Our Legacy: Lyceum’s Founders
The Lyceum’s founder members were experienced educationists and/or those who mostly joined after retiring as Heads of departments or as Heads of schools and colleges.
Steeped in traditional mores, ethics and values, they worked with a vision not only to educate but to inculcate a respect and pride in themselves and our own culture and history. Teaching colonial education through a lens of decolonisation was a labour of love and continues to be. We work with the hope that our successors and alumni members will carry forward the legacy.
Founding Board Members
Adnan Asdar Ali |
MS, Engineering, University of Minnesota |
Kamran Asdar Ali |
PhD, Anthropology, Johns Hopkins University |
Mahboob Khan |
BSc & Dip Arch University of London |
Muzaffar Qazilbash |
MD, Dept. of Stem Cell Transplantation, UT, Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston |
Nur un Nehar Asdar |
BA, Delhi University |
Syed Fahim Ahmad |
MA, English Literature, Punjab University |
Present Advisory Board
Dr. Abdul Bari Khan |
CEO, Indus Hospital |
Adnan Asdar Ali |
CEO, Multinet |
Dr. Kamran Asdar Ali |
Professor of Anthropology, UT Austin, Texas |
Najeeb Omar |
Practicing Architect, Najeeb Omar and Associates |
Nausheen Ahmad |
Barrister at Law, Lead Counsel, The Legal and Governance Advisory |
Shahriar Asdar Ahmad (Secretary) |
Director, Development & Student Life – The Lyceum |
Founding Advisory Board Members
Dr. Aquila Islam |
PhD, Nuclear Physics, McMaster University |
Dr. Rhoda Vania |
PhD, English Literature, University of Wisconsin |
Principals
Scheherazade Asdar Ahmad(Director & Principal: 1987-1988, 1995-96, 2002-2003, 2013-Date) |
MA, Social Political Thought, Sussex MA, Education (Sociology and Equity Studies) OISE, University of Toronto |
Frederick G. Sharp(1999-2000) |
MA, English, Exeter College, Oxford University |
Ishrat Lindblad(1993-1994, 1996-1998, 2008-2009, 2010-2011) |
PhD, English Literature, University of Uppsala, Sweden |
Maheen Islam(Co-Director: 1987) |
MA, Economics, Karachi University |
Rashida Khan(1992-1993, 2000-2001) |
MA, English Literature, Peshawar University |
Razia Shabbir Ahmad (Jiya)(1988-1992) |
MA, English Literature, Allahabad University Diploma in Education, University of Leeds |
Dr. Rhoda Vania(1998-1999) |
PhD, English Literature, University of Wisconsin |
Shereen Khan(2003-2008, 2011- 2013) |
MA, English Literature, Karachi University |
Founding Heads of Departments
A.H Bhuiya (Economics) |
MA, Economics, Tehran University |
Maki Kureishi (English Literature) |
MA, English Literature, Smith College |
Naim Suhrawardy (Accounting) |
I.C.A (Fin), England and Wales |
Naseem Ahmad Sheikh (Chemistry) |
MSc, Chemistry, Karachi University |
Nayyar Jamil (Art) |
BA, Art, Karachi University |
Qasim Ishaque (Sociology) |
PhD, Sociology, State University New York |
Shamim Azam (Mathematics) |
MA, Applied Math, Karachi University |
Founding Faculty Members
Abdur Rahman |
MA, Statistics, Karachi University |
Aliya Saeed |
MSc, Biology, California State University |
Durrey Riaz |
MSc, Chemistry, Karachi University |
Faryal Jooma |
LLM, Northwestern University MA, Political Science, Karachi University |
Kazim Hasan |
Law Tripos, St. John’s College, University of Cambridge Bar at Law, Middle Temple |
Maheen Islam |
MA, Economics, Karachi University |
Maki Kureishi |
MA English Literature, Smith College, USA |
Nazi Khan |
MA, English Literature, Karachi University |
Parveen Niaz |
BA Hons, English Literature, University of Sindh |
Rashid Khan |
MSc, Physics, Karachi University |
Umber Khairi |
BA, Comparative Literature and Near Eastern Studies, Princeton University |
Uzma Shakir |
MA, International Relations, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University |
Values
Lyceum has played a major role in shaping my career and has helped me find my true potential. My confidence had been completely shattered from the school that I came from, devastated by the fact that not only students, but at times, even the faculty members can bully you as well, scared of ever being able to find a place I can adjust to. Being part of The Lyceum, with such fears seemed hard initially but the Lyceum welcomed me with such open arms and warmth that this place, in no time, became my second home.
I owe everything I am today to Lyceum and some of the great teachers who have really been amazing mentors and guides. Lyceum has given me so much acceptance and security that I can never repay it! I hope Lyceum always continues to impart such confidence, excellence and warmth to the upcoming generations.”
– Marium Muhammad Amin, Class of 2020
Lyceum students will discover, develop and demonstrate an awareness of these core values.
Respect
True respect for oneself, lends to true respect for others.
Tolerance
Tolerance teaches our students patience, humility and good form.
Inclusivity
Lyceum is an inclusive society that embraces all in spirit and form.
Accountability
Our students are expected to be responsible and accountable for their decisions and actions.
Discretion
Generosity of spirit requires no laurels or pompous affirmations. To do good unto others without need of external validation or return is one of the principles we stand by.
Equity
Consolidates our values and ecosystems with fair and consistent dealings with all.
Social Justice
Advocacy has been a deeply rooted mainstay of The Lyceum. We try to filter all our work through the lens of social consciousness that includes respect for our ecosystem.
Compassion and Empathy
Students are taught to balance compassion and empathy with a practical sustainable approach to work and relationships.
Democracy
The Lyceum endeavours to uphold the most transparent measures to ensure equal representation. We endeavour to “prepare our youth for every future,” by developing an understanding of representative, inclusive and consensus-based decision making.
Responsibility
A Lyceum community member is a responsible and accountable architect of his or her own fate, as well as a contributing factor towards the well-being of others.
Integrity
To uphold all our values requires tenacity and grit. A Lyceum community member, when aligned with the values mentioned above, ensures that he or she has the integrity and steadfastness to live by and model these values, both in their journey here and in the future.
Creativity
Imagination, initiative and innovation lead to the celebration and pursuit of originality in thought and inventiveness in approach which makes studies and co-curricular at The Lyceum and daily minutiae of life in general, refreshing and intellectually stimulating.
Servant Leadership
Leadership at The Lyceum is a facilitating position. Our servant-leadership approach is a “top down” process permeating to the grassroots, through student led projects or causes we endorse, student council training and the framework by which the school is managed.
Home
Is home a feeling?
That tugs at the
heartstring
the ache oh so
powerful when
a wave of nostalgia
rocks the boat
of life.Is home a person?
Waiting with
open arms,
Peering shyly
From behind curtains
like those reluctant
first rays of sunlight
after a stormy night.Is home an identity?
A passport perhaps
the stamp indicates
where you are headed
but what if the journey
is within you?Is home a place?
A sanctuary
Where letters are written
secretly and ripped apart.
Somewhere, a book
Gathers dust but the faded rose
Petals pressed lovingly between
pages still smell the same.
Can home be all of the above?
Winter mornings and coffee
Moorahs and much needed
Hangouts with friends
Anticipated reunions
in the D-zone.
Little did I know
I found home under the
shade of trees and
sunbathing turtles.
– Rumana Mehdi, Class of 2014
