The Citizens Foundation (TCF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the education system in Pakistan. Established in 1995, TCF is now one of the country’s leading organizations in education that has established 455 purpose-built schools nationwide with an enrollment of about 55,000 students. TCF encourages gender diversity in their schools by ensuring 50% female enrollment and a full female faculty. The overarching vision of this NGO is to bring a positive change to Pakistan by providing quality education to the country’s less-privileged youth, [also see a similar news post this week on Pakistan's education system]. CHUP interviewed Bushra Tayyeb of The Citizens Foundation, who commented on the organization’s goals and achievements within the overarching context of Pakistan’s education reform and development. [Image from TCF's website, see above link].
Q: The Citizens Foundation (TCF) has established 455 purpose-built schools throughout Pakistan with an enrollment of about 55,000 students. How does the organization decide where to build these schools? Are there particular regions or areas that TCF generally targets?
The sites we take up are 70% donor driven and the rest are taken up on ‘as per need’ basis in those areas where we already have a certain number of schools and feel that there is need for expansion. Also, once a site has been taken up as requested by our donors, we try and develop that area for more schools so that they become logistically manageable for TCF.
Q: TCF also ensures a 50-50 ratio of male to female students at the time of admission in order to counter considerable gender disparaties in Pakistan’s education system. Given the social context of Pakistan’s gender gap, and that only 22 percent of girls in rural areas have completed primary level schooling, what difficulties or resistance has your organization faced in ensuring this 50-50 ratio?
So far no resistance as such to speak of. The odd areas do present a challenge but we have a system whereby counseling sessions are conducted with parents and communities to maximize enrollment of girls in TCF schools. In order to promote female enrollment of students in our schools, the teaching faculty comprises of female members only.
Q: What kinds of values does TCF attempt to instill in their education curricula? Given the sometimes negative perceptions associated with madrassa education, do TCF’s schools focus more on secular or religious education or a combination of the two? In Pakistan, can these two types of education be separated?
Our focus is totally on secular education and Islamiat is one of the subjects taught. We are NOT a madrassa school but an excellent alternative. Training is imparted to teachers in such a way that stress is laid on character building and developing a well-rounded personality.
Q: What is TCF’s greatest success in education reform and development? What message are we sending through this success?
We can’t boast of success until we have actually made a dent in our illiteracy levels. However, we do try and brush-up the curricula in way that suits the needs of our children. Our aim is to encourage people to come forward and help. Nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it.
[...] TCF encourages gender diversity in their schools by ensuring 50% female […] Read more at: CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan Tagged as: chup, donors, education reform, education system, female enrollment, female [...]
Thanks for posting this Kalsoom. Now I know who I need to contact when I return to Pakistan to teach. I think Education is one of the most important aspects to International Development.
Well said Rebecca.
I think it’s great to see such dedication in Pakistan despite all the hardship our country has faced over the past few years.
Unfortunately, we don’t really get to see the positives that take place in Pakistan as it’s overshadowed by all the negativity so thanks for taking the time to do this interview.
Kalsoom, thanks for posting this interview! It’s great to see all the work Bushra Aunty is doing along with everyone else involved at TCF. It’s an excellent program and anyone interested should check out their website on ways to contribute (through donations and volunteering).
Keep up the great work, you all are doing fantastic job at TCF.
If any of your US readership wants to get involved in the work that TCF is doing to educate the under privileged in Pakistan, please ask them to visit http://www.tcfusa.org and contact us using the information on the web site.
Thanks
Danial Noorani
TCF-USA
i like the setup of your NGO it is very good for the welfare of the pakistani people.
This is great. This was back when I didn’t know you. TCF is really really filling in the gap that the govt has left.
hey, i am amber from Lahore.i want to know about “The citizen Foundation” i am doing the M.phil Thesis from Punajb University lahore, related to all educational campaigns introduced in Punjab. its gud to know about u through net. can u kindly tell me about ur Lahor office. i would be intrested to visit ur office in order to gather info for my final thesis.
Please sir sent email address
we send some picture to you
Definitely TCF is doing a good job, the efforts of the people at TCF is commendable. Education is the stepping stone for the children of an impoverished society, in attaining quality of life. TCF is a legend now in Pakistan with around 450-500 schools all over Pakistan. It however hurts to see that educated people like Kulsoom , should so candidly say that TCF schools give secular education, and Islamiyat is only taught as a subject. How can TCF then claim that they are focused on character buiding of children also? What moral standards then do the children adopt here, from the Western societies? Is she able to find a better moral and character building standard then one ordained by Allah in the Quran? This somehow shows a distinct retaliation to our religion. Whatever Taliban extremists do or “sick” terrorists do should never be labelled as “in the name of Islam”, they dont know the ABC of Shariat! Islamic Republic of Pakistan is no secular state, and our religion is the way of life of the millions of people here, even in today’s flashy, anti-Islamic pressure group infiltrated urban society. The first thing our Prophet was asked to do was to “READ” (Iqra) in case you dont know that Kulsoom. By declaring that TCF is educating the way a Muslim nation’s curriculum should be is nothing to be proud of, since many donors donate to TCF their ZAKAT, SADQAAT, KHAIRAAT money which are our religious obligations and furnish the needs for educating a Muslim. Maddarsahs are the earliest versions of higher learning and have produced great Scholars in the olden days, if today a tiny percentage of these doesn’t conform to Islamic teachings, the whole concept cannot be shunned. Anyway Islam is in everything; in education, in morality, in character building etc. etc. I pray that TCF’s good efforts are not dented by such irresponsible claims which hurt the sentiments of the millions of practicing Muslims who donate in child’s education as a religious moral obligation.
Dr. Farah Khan
Dr. Khan,
Obviously you did not understand that this was an interview conducted by me (Kalsoom) of a person from the TCF organization – Bushra Tayyeb. If you have issues with her answer about secular education versus Islamic education, that should be addressed to her, not to me, since I asked the question.
And yes I know all about Iqra – I studied Islam during my schooling and during university, so I don’t need to be lectured on the subject.