Your questions answered
Your support means a great deal to us and we aim to ensure you feel totally happy with where and how your gifts will be spent.

FAQ's

1. Who are the people behind TCF?

The Citizens Foundation is a public company limited by guarantee. To find out about the board of directors please refer to our website section 'TCF Profile – The People'


2. What percentage of the money that is collected by TCF, goes to the actual running of the schools?

TCF receives capital and non-capital donations. Capital donations are for constructing and equipping new schools. Non - capital contributions are used for the running costs of existing schools. 92% of all funding TCF receives is spent on School projects. On average, the annual administrative expenditure of TCF is 8% - 9% of total donations received.


3. From where does TCF receive its funds?

Presently TCF receives its funds from various organizations and thousands of individuals based in Pakistan and abroad.


4. Do the directors derive any monetary benefit from the Foundation?

According to the Memorandum and Articles of Association, directors of The Citizens Foundation can not and do not derive any monetary benefit from the Foundation.


5. How long will the schools run on charity/donations? Is there a self-sustaining system?
Is there an endowment fund?

TCF operates in the most destitute areas in order to provide local children a brighter future by giving them access to a quality education. As a consequence of this conscious and essential choice, TCF has accepted the responsibility to support these schools till these areas achieve the requisite level of economic well-being. TCF is, however, simultaneously establishing an endowment fund which when fully in place will meet a part of its annual running expenses.


6. Are there any educationists on the board or committee?

Yes. TCF has a number of education & training specialists at various management levels - not to mention TCF's own experience of almost 12 years in providing education


7. On what basis is the curriculum designed?

TCF Schools follow a relevant and comprehensive curriculum, which is in line with the officially prescribed syllabus by the board of their respective region. However, this syllabus is suitably modified and regularly updated to meet the demands of modern-day education. Furthermore, activities such as debates, essay writing, art, and competitions along with sports help to develop TCF's students holistically.


8. What are the long-term plans of the organization? Will they provide vocational training?

As of 2009, TCF has 404 primary and 126 secondary school units spread over 63 locations. The organization aims to add schools each year to reach its long-term goal of 1,000 school units all over the country, accommodating 360,000 students by 2012.
Presently, vocational training as a possible future element of the educational program is being given consideration by the Board.


9. On what basis are the teachers selected/hired?

a. Who selects them, what is the system?

TCF employs an all female teaching staff policy, other than this one restricted criteria all Teachers are selected strictly on merit. All posts are advertised in newspapers. Applications are vetted against announced criteria. All acceptable candidates are invited through individual letters for interview. The interview is conducted by a panel. Selected candidates are then issued formal appointment letters.

b. Are they trained, what is the system?

All selected teachers, regardless of their academic or teaching qualifications and experience are given extensive initial training at TCF’s Teacher Training Centre in Karachi or by our master trainers in other locations for a period of four weeks (approx: 110-120 hrs.). All in-service teachers are given annual developmental training to update their knowledge and equip them with latest teaching skills.

c. Are the paid, how much?

All employees of TCF, including teachers, are paid regular salaries. The salary of a teacher is fixed on the basis of her academic and teaching qualifications, teaching experience, and potential. In addition to their salaries, the teachers get paid holidays, pick and drop facilities, and their children receive special fee concessions.

d. What is the accepted level of qualification?

The acceptable level of qualification has been established on the basis of the classes that selected teachers are likely to be assigned. At the primary level, the minimum qualification is matriculation whereas at the secondary level, it is graduation. All principals and English language teachers must also be graduates. Please note that these are minimum qualifications. However, TCF has many teachers with master's degrees teaching at the primary level.


10. Who bears the expenses of the secretariat, that is, the staff?

Expenses of Head office and the Regional/Area Offices are borne by TCF. Some directors assist
financially or in kind to reduce administrative expenses.


11. How can you ensure that your system is being implemented as planned?

The Citizens Foundation has evolved an effective system to monitor and evaluate its programme activities. This system is fine-tuned regularly to ensure its efficacy and relevance.
Each school and its faculty is evaluated by a team of evaluators. All aspects of the school including its administration and performance of its faculty are evaluated on the basis of set criteria. This performance evaluation helps us in upgrading our systems, career planning of our academic staff and designing the annual refresher training for our faculty. The quest for excellence is an incessant process at TCF.


12. What are the criteria of awarding scholarships and who provides the books and uniforms?

Scholarships are awarded on the basis of need. Need is judged by calculating the overall household income of each family and its education related expenses with the objective of making education affordable for every student. All applicants for financial assistance fill in a printed form providing all necessary details about their family and resources. The school staff then, through visits to the applicants' homes, verifies this information. Finally TCF principals send the completed scholarship forms, along with their recommendations to their respective Regional Offices where the final decision is taken.
Scholarships are given for one academic year and the recipients are eligible to reapply. Deserving students get uniforms and textbooks free of cost. Others are provided the facility of purchasing uniforms and textbooks on easy instalments. This facility is offered to reduce the financial burden on parents at the beginning of the academic year, a time when they have to buy uniforms and textbooks for all their school-going children.


13. Are there any tests for admission, at entry level, and from class one onwards?

In order to promote education en masse, it is imperative that admission is given to all children. Consequently, there are no tests at the entry level. From class one onwards, there are tests to determine the class in which a child can be given admission.


14. What is the drop-out rate?

Less than 1%. Only those children whose parents move to another town or locality withdraw their children from TCF schools


15. Are there parent-teacher association meetings in your schools?

Teachers and parents hold meetings every quarter, which are recorded meticulously. The objective of these meetings is communication with parents who are generally illiterate. Teachers seek to reassure them about the activities of the school, and request their help in providing better education to their children. Parents, nevertheless, have no formal role in the management of TCF schools.


16. What are the extra-curricular activities?

The students of TCF schools go on regular field trips, participate in art and other competitions, and hold functions on important national days.


17. Is your programme restricted to urban areas or will you extend it to rural areas too?

TCF has schools in rural areas and urban slums of Pakistan. Most TCF schools in the Punjab are in villages.


18. Is there any resistance from local residents/parents?

None at all. On the contrary, local residents and parents everywhere have been extremely helpful and co-operative. In the Punjab, individuals and a group of local residents have even donated plots for building schools.


19. What is the girl/boy ratio in schools and are these co-education schools?

TCF schools are co-educational institutes, except in cases where there are cultural restrictions and/or requirements by Provincial Educational Boards. TCF Schools have close to 50% female students, which has been achieved by employing an all female staff policy.


20. Is zakat acceptable as a donation?

Yes. TCF maintains a separate account for Zakat funds. These funds are utilized strictly in accordance with the Shariah rules governing their use.