About

80 years ago, a young boy meandered through the streets of Kot Ishaq harboring a vision and unyielding spirit to transcend the barriers brought about through a lack of education. At a time when schooling took the backseat when it came to a man’s priorities, this was a boy who’s belief in education fueled his impetus to break every societal and economic difficulty that faced him and his family. From a young age, this boy recognized the immeasurable capabilities an education had to offer, and he set his mind on taking full advantage of such edification in order to carry not only himself, but also his people into an era of prosperity. Facing acute circumstances, he managed to educate himself, achieving outstanding academic successes. His efforts eventually led to his position as a civil servant and high-ranking official in the Indian Civil Service. However, he did not forget his people upon the completion of his own personal triumphs. During his lifetime, Mohamad Hussain Sufi did all that he could to better the circumstances of his people.

His dream however, was only wholly solidified and brought into actualization by his son, Parvez Sufi. In 1994, he established the M.H Sufi Foundation (in memory of his father), a non-profit organization that aims to improve the standard of education available in the region of Hafizabad, Pakistan. And this too, done so that the local communities in the area may invest in the education of their children in the present, so to guarantee a promise of a brighter future.

The M.H.Sufi Foundation aims to bring about a social transformation in the rural areas of Pakistan. The vision involves the establishment of 25 schools in the Hafizabad district, schools that at an optimum level of enrollment will provide education to 30,000 students. This number represents 10% of Hafizabad’s school going population. The targeted scope for each of the schools that are in process as well as those that we hope will be established in the near future, is to provide educational programs from a primary level to a full high school education.
The branch at Kot Ishaq has already started offering the desired levels of education with its vast campus and educational facilities. The other established and upcoming branches would imitate the same model.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES

• To provide affordable, quality and easily accessible education & related facilities to rural areas of Pakistan.
• To empower the rural population with education and technical skills that drives them towards prosperity.
• To become a model of excellence in providing education in rural areas

The locations of each school are carefully selected through an observation of the village where the school is erected, and the surrounding villages within a 7 km radius. This is to ensure that the number of students to whom the school is available is optimized to its full potential. 2-3 acres of land are acquired on ownership, and strategically designed buildings are constructed separately for primary, elementary, and high school students. Other requisite facilities are also provided, such as; playgrounds, furnishing, libraries, admin offices, computer labs, transportation vehicles, etc.

Schools are initially launched by admission in the junior most primary classes and subsequently, as students progress to the next class each year, vacancies in the pre-school classes are filled. The number of classes depends upon the students enrolled, however we aim to not exceed more than 30 children per class and 3 sections per grade.
The teaching staff(s) mostly consist of female teachers from Hafizabad who have to go through a year long training program at the prestigious Ali Institute of Education in Lahore, where they are taught a wide range of skills in teaching that target activity based learning instead of the rote system.

The capital expenditure (land, building etc.) for the schools is largely financed by private donations while the operational expenditure is met through affordable tuition and other fees. Suitable scholarships are provided to the needy.
The direct beneficiaries are the children enrolled at the Foundation’s schools while the indirect are the parents and siblings of such students. The courses designed are mostly in agreement with the national curriculum and are also shared with the parents of enrolled pupils. Regular parent-teacher meetings are held to discuss the schools’ and students’ progress so to obtain and respond to community feedback.

The key challenge and risk is to maintain and continually upgrade the standard of education. The foundation strives to accomplish this through a frequent and thorough review of the system as well as the skills improvement of the teaching staff.

The M.H. Sufi Foundation has 3 main targets for achieving its objective of providing quality education to the children in Hafizabad who are otherwise denied of it. These targets are:

• Establishing a total of 25 schools (each from primary to high school) throughout Hafizabad, over 5 to 10 years (depending upon availability of funds).
• Each of the schools at optimum operation should cater to a total of around 1,200 students (boys and girls), separated into 14 grades, with 30 students per grade, and 3 sections per grade. Thus, at any given time around 30,000 students would be enrolled in the Foundation’s 25 schools providing education to 15% of Hafizabad ’s school going population.
• The quality of education has to be ensured in each of the schools, and at all levels.

Progress against targets (i) and (ii) are monitored in terms of the numbers as indicated. The educational quality standards are monitored through:

• A teacher selection process based on merit, training, and assessment.
• Cass-based students’ appraisals and tests.
• Students’ performances in the independent Board examinations for higher classes, i.e. 8th to 12th.

Around 8,500 children (40% female) of Hafizabad are currently receiving formal, quality education in the Foundation’s 18 schools. This allows them to develop their intellect in the short term, and become responsible, independent, and successful citizens in the longer run. Current students are also having a positive influence on their siblings and parents. Moreover, since the establishment of the foundation, hundreds of students have graduated from the schools and are engaged in higher studies in prestigious colleges and/or have entered professional careers.

The main instrument to measure the impact of the Foundation’s services is through the grades achieved by students in their Board examinations from grades 8 to 12. Around 85% of the Foundation’s students have been achieving first division (60% plus) marks in the past several years, with a large proportion of student receiving ‘A’ grades (high first division). Such success in the Board exams has played a pivotal role in building the lives and livelihood of these children.

The Foundation’s diligent efforts in providing quality education to rural areas have had a fundamental impact on the lives of its pupils. We have always believed it is every citizen’s right to have an easy access to education and to be given equal opportunities in life so to progress and prosper. An educated society is one that contributes to its full potential in the development of a nation.

LOCATION OF THE DISTRICT

Hafizabad,100 km north-west of Lahore, is the city of Punjab province. The river Chenab forms the Northern and North-Western boundary of the Hafizabad district. On the North-West of Hafizabad lies Mandi Babauddin, Sheikhupura on the South, Sargodha and Jhang districts on the West and Gujranwala district to the East. The district Hafizabad has a total area of 2,367 square km and comprises two tehsils namely Hafizabad and Pindi Bhattian.

POPULATION OF HAFIZABAD

• Total population of Hafizabad district: 2,000,000 approx.
• Male population of Hafizabad district: 52.02%
• Female population of Hafizabad district: 47.98%

HISTORY OF HAFIZABAD

In ancient times, when in 327 B.C Alexander the Great attacked the Sub-Continent, the territory Sandal Bar, (which is currently Hafizabad) was a populated area. Big cities were located in this territory, and a lot of sub states were constructed and overseen here under the Presidency of Maharajas and Rajas. Investigation and research tells us that present day Hafizabad was reconstructed and rebuilt between “1556-1570” by the Mughal Emperor, Akbar.

EDUCATION IN HAFIZABAD

Up until 1964 there was no high school in Hafizabad, and people were forced to travel to Gujranwala, which is 48 kilometers from Hafizabad, in order to acquire high-school studies. The first high-school in Hafizabad was established in 1964. In 1967 it was upgraded to become Government Degree College, and in the same year, science classes were initiated. To date, various private schools have burgeoned around the nation, but none provide the premium education that the M.H Sufi Foundation has to offer.

The M.H Sufi Foundation is dedicated in maintaining a high standard and degree of ethics and professionalism in its operation and governance. Accordingly, it aims to establish itself as a model of merit. The foundation has been awarded certification from The Pakistan Center for Philanthropy (a government owned regulatory body) for displaying excellence in its program delivery, internal governance, and financial management.