Murad Reviews SEF–TCF Partnership to Expand Access to Quality Education in Sindh

Staff Reporter

Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired a high-level meeting on Sunday to review progress on the tripartite agreement between the Sindh Education Foundation (SEF), The Citizens Foundation (TCF), and the School Education & Literacy Department (SE&LD) aimed at expanding access to quality education across the province.

The review meeting, held at the CM House, was attended by Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah, Principal Secretary to CM Agha Wasif, Secretary SE&LD Zahid Abbasi, SEF Managing Director Ganhwar Leghari, and senior representatives of TCF including Mushtaq Chhapra, Ahsan Saleem, and Zia Akhter Abbas.

Under the 10-year partnership (2019–2029), SEF and TCF are collaborating to establish and operate up to 500 new schools and rehabilitate selected dysfunctional or closed schools in various districts through SEF’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The initiative operates under SEF’s Foundation Assisted Schools (FAS) framework.

According to MD SEF Ganhwar Leghari, TCF has so far established 98 schools in districts including Badin, Dadu, Hyderabad, Jacobabad, Korangi, Malir, Kashmore, Matiari, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Shaheed Benazirabad, Shikarpur, and Sujawal. The remaining schools will be set up in phases through June 2029.

The Chief Minister reviewed proposals to revise the per-child monthly subsidy to Rs 2,500, with annual increases linked to inflation, as part of a uniform subsidy structure across SEF’s portfolio. The SEF Executive and Finance Committee has already discussed the proposal, stressing consistency and sustainability in funding.

It was also proposed that approval for new school sites should be based on population size and unmet educational needs rather than proximity to existing government schools.

Applauding SEF and TCF for their collaborative efforts, CM Shah said the partnership was “a model for sustainable educational reform through community-driven solutions.” He urged the departments concerned to review the proposed framework and submit recommendations for final approval.

The meeting reaffirmed the Sindh government’s commitment to ensuring inclusive, equitable, and quality education through effective partnerships and governance reforms.