In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the provincial government has directed considerable funds toward political rallies advocating for the release of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and even considered purchasing Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). Yet, it has failed to pay salaries for the last eight months to 5,238 teachers of girls’ community schools, impacting the education of approximately 276,000 students in remote areas.
These community schools, operating under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Elementary and Secondary Education Foundation (E&SEF), provide essential educational services in regions without government schools. Teachers in these schools receive only PKR 21,000 per month—significantly below the provincial minimum wage of PKR 36,000. Despite this disparity, their wages have been stalled due to a lack of funding.
The foundation’s financial troubles intensified after the transfer of its former managing director, Zareeful Maani, in September 2023. His successors faced similar challenges, with frequent leadership changes undermining efforts to secure funding. The current managing director, Khawaja Faheem Sajjad, appointed in September 2024, has inherited an institution struggling to operate without adequate resources.
Teachers, who often work under challenging conditions and cover long distances to reach their schools, are in financial distress. Many rely on loans from family members to meet basic needs. Some schools have already shut down due to non-payment, with others on the brink of closure. The community schools, which rely on local support for facilities, are also grappling with unpaid building rents, with teachers often contributing up to 40% of rental costs from their own salaries.
Despite repeated inquiries, Minister for Education Faisal Tarakai has not provided any comments regarding the delayed payments. The situation continues to place the livelihoods of teachers and the education of thousands of students at risk, raising serious concerns about government priorities and accountability in the education sector.
