Frequently asked questions

  • Who are the people behind TCF?

    The Citizens Foundation is a public company limited by guarantee. Details of TCF’s Board of Directors can be found on TCF’s Web site.

  • 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. Of all funding TCF receives, 92% is spent on school projects. On average, the annual administrative expenditure of TCF is 8–9% of total donations received.

  • From where do FTCF and TCF receive funds?

    FTCF funds are raised from individuals, corporates, matched giving, Trusts and events.

    Presently TCF receives funds from its Global Chapters, various organisations and thousands of individuals based in Pakistan and abroad.

  • Do the directors derive any monetary benefit from the Foundation?

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

  • How long will the schools run on charity/donations? Is there a self-sustaining system?

    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 until 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.

  • Are there any educationists on the board or committee?

    Yes. TCF has a number of education and training specialists at various management levels, not to mention TCF’s own experience of almost 15 years in providing education

  • On what basis is the curriculum designed?

    TCF have developed a modern, relevant and comprehensive curriculum which is taught through activity-based learning and well trained and enthusiastic teachers. It has produced its own in-house significantly enhanced version of the state curriculum, as well as teaching aids, books and student materials. These are regularly updated to ensure they meet the demands of a modern day education.

    We believe in the holistic development of children and therefore activities such as debating, field trips, art and sports form an integral part of the curriculum. English is introduced from Class I (Year 1), well in advance of government curriculum requirements.

  • What are the long-term plans of the organisation? Do TCF provide vocational training?

    As of 2010, TCF has 502 primary and 158 secondary school units spread over 68 locations. The organisation 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.

    Some of the vocational programmes that TCF has piloted are coming to fruition. For the two programmes outlined below, TCF partners with other NGOs (who bear all costs) and the programmes are being rolled-out to an increasing number of TCF school buildings which are put to use in the evenings, weekends and school holidays:

    • Female Adult Literacy Program: This is an accelerated three-month program using specially designed books and learning material. At the end of the program participants should be able to read and understand a newspaper, write a simple letter, plus acquire some basic maths skills. To date around 1,500 women have benefited from this programme. A seventy-something year old woman thanked TCF at her ‘graduation’: ‘we were blind – now we can see’;
    • Vocational Training Program (accredited by City & Guilds): Since there was always going to be a significant number of TCF children unable to further themselves academically after matriculation, a key object for TCF has been to develop a robust platform for these students to acquire relevant vocational skills. The following courses are tailored to skills in short supply and run for six months and one year:
      • General electrician
      • General fitter and fabrication
      • Plumber and pipe-fitting
      • Refrigeration and air-conditioning
      • Car and motor-cycle repairing

    Separate courses are designed and run for women. We plan to gradually expand the number and range of courses as well as the number of TCF schools where they will be run. Currently, very few of the participants are TCF children. Most of the participants are the older children in these urban slums and villages but, in time, this will benefit increasing numbers of TCF students who do not go on to college after they matriculate.

  • 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 strategic criteria all Teachers are selected strictly on merit. All posts are advertised in newspapers and applications are vetted against announced criteria. Candidates are invited through individual letters for an interview. Each interview is conducted by a panel and 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 also given annual developmental training to update their knowledge and equip them with the latest teaching methods.

    c. Are the teachers paid, how much?

    All employees at 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.

  • 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.