The cost of an O Level education places it beyond the reach of some of Lahore’s most able students. The Maktab Scholars Program is designed to open this opportunity to students who would otherwise be unable to pursue it.
This program is a highly selective academic scholarship initiative for exceptional students entering Grade IX O Levels at Maktab. Each year, a small cohort of students demonstrating outstanding academic achievement, intellectual promise, discipline, and strength of character may be designated as Maktab Scholars and welcomed into the O Level program on the basis of merit.
Maktab believes that an able student, given the right environment, will go further than anyone expected — and that when such a student is denied that environment, the loss is not theirs alone, but society’s as well.
The Maktab Scholars Program is the school’s response to that conviction. It is deliberately structured as a merit scholarship rather than a fee waiver. Scholars are selected for their academic promise, discipline, and character. The financial coverage exists to make their place possible; it is not the reason for their place.
Up to five full scholarships may be awarded each year. Scholars join the O Level cohort as full members of the school, studying alongside their peers and participating fully in school life. The Maktab Scholars designation carries additional expectations: scholars are expected to demonstrate strong academic commitment, responsible conduct, discipline, and seriousness of purpose. It is a recognition of character as much as ability, and is reviewed annually.
Founded in 2012, Maktab is a private co-educational English-medium school in Lahore, offering education from Preschool to O Levels on a purpose-built, eco-conscious 3.5-acre campus. The school is intentionally small, with class sizes that allow teachers to know each student individually.
Selection as a Maktab Scholar is by competitive merit. Up to five full scholarships may be awarded each year. Each full scholarship covers:
The scholarship ensures that selected scholars can attend Maktab fully and participate in the O Level program without cost standing in the way.
Scholarships are intended to support students through the O Level program, subject to annual review and renewal based on continued academic excellence, responsible conduct, and active participation in school life.
Applicants not selected as Maktab Scholars may be considered separately for financial assistance based on need and merit.
The Maktab Scholars Program was launched in 2024. Its inaugural cohort of five scholars will sit the Cambridge examinations in 2027, laying the foundation for a scholarship initiative the school intends to build on in future years.
Their journey reflects the purpose of the program: to identify students of exceptional promise and give them access to an environment where their ability, discipline, and character can develop fully.
These students joined Maktab not simply to receive support, but to become full members of the school community — studying alongside their peers, participating in school life, and contributing to the culture of the O Level cohort.
Azan Ahmed comes from Farooqabad. Even before joining Maktab, he describes himself as a student who was eager to learn and constantly looking for opportunities to challenge himself. He enjoyed exploring new ideas and competing in activities that pushed him beyond his comfort zone.
The transition to Maktab brought new opportunities, but also new challenges. For Azan, one of the most difficult adjustments was developing the confidence to speak and perform in front of others. Maktab’s emphasis on presentations, classroom discussions, and competitions encouraged him to step onto the stage and express his ideas more openly.
Over time, he began to feel at home in an environment where students were encouraged to think independently and participate actively. English classes and school competitions gave him opportunities to share his views and build confidence. His teacher, Ms. Muntaha, recalls seeing a new side of Azan emerge through drama, as a usually introverted student began to perform with growing confidence on stage.
One of Azan’s proudest moments came when he realised how much his English had improved. When he first arrived at Maktab, he felt that even much younger students spoke English more confidently than he did. Hearing positive feedback from Sir Irfan about his progress became a significant milestone in his journey.
As he prepares for his O Levels, Azan’s focus is not only on grades but on learning itself. He hopes to continue expanding his knowledge and making the most of every opportunity available to him.
Syed Abdullah Shah is a Grade 11 student at Maktab and comes from Haripur, Hazara. Before joining Maktab, he describes himself as a student who was often at the top of the list academically. Over time, however, he began to feel that grades alone did not fully capture the progress he wanted to make as a learner.
At Maktab, Abdullah found an environment that encouraged him to explore his academic interests more deeply. Rather than being defined only by marks, he began to discover subjects and challenges that pushed him to grow in new ways. His teacher describes him as excelling in Urdu poetry competitions.
The hardest part of his transition was English Literature, a subject that was new and demanding for him. With guidance from his English Literature teacher and Maktab’s principal, Ms. Haleema, he continued working through the difficulty and saw it as part of his growth.
One moment that made Abdullah especially proud was preparing his Science Mela project before the school had even announced participation. The previous time, he had not been able to complete his own project. This time, he was ready ahead of time, which showed him how far he had come.
As he prepares for his O Levels, Abdullah hopes to make a mark in Physics, the subject he loves most. He also hopes to perform strongly in the National Science Talent Contest and work towards opportunities connected to the Physics Olympiad.
You must enjoy the struggle of overcoming challenges. At Maktab, you will face many challenges — but that is how you grow.
Our experience has been very good. Our child has found direction. He comes home knowing what he has to study, uses his time better, and most importantly, he is satisfied
These students tend to take initiative in group activities. They like to involve others and ask a lot of questions by which they have uplifted the learning pace of the class as a whole.
Students selected as Maktab Scholars will be expected to uphold the standards and values associated with this distinction.
Maktab Scholars are expected to:
Applicants must:
The program is open to both boys and girls.
The selection process consists of the following stages:
The assessments will evaluate students’ skills in English, Urdu, and Mathematics. Final selection will be made by the school on the basis of overall academic and personal merit.
| Stage | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Applications Open | 1 June 2026 |
| Application Deadline | 30 June 2026 |
| Online Assessments | Early July 2026 |
| On-Campus Entry Test | Mid July 2026 |
| Interviews | End July 2026 |
| Final Decisions Announced | Early August 2026 |
| Session Commences | Mid-August 2026 |
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English