SEF Teachers across Sindh continue to earn far below the provincial minimum wage, despite a rise in government funding for the Sindh Education Foundation (SEF).

The Sindh government increased the minimum monthly wage to Rs43,000 in the current fiscal year’s budget. However, thousands of teachers at SEF-supported schools reportedly receive only Rs10,000 to Rs15,000 per month.

According to official data obtained by The Express Tribune, the Sindh Education Foundation received Rs10.89 billion in the previous fiscal year. The provincial government increased the allocation to Rs13.5 billion in the current budget.

SEF supports nearly 3,000 schools across Sindh, including 378 non-formal education centres.

These institutions employ around 30,000 male and female teachers. Most of them reportedly earn less than one-third of the government’s minimum wage.

The foundation funds partner schools through a monthly subsidy based on student enrolment and grade level.

Schools receive between Rs800 per primary student and Rs2,300 per higher secondary student each month.

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According to SEF records, more than 100,000 students study in schools operating under the programme.

Khairpur Mir’s has the highest number of SEF-supported schools with 385 institutions. It is followed by Sanghar (225), Dadu (196), Badin (163), Qambar-Shahdadkot (157), Mirpurkhas (149), Malir (127), Umerkot (109) and Tharparkar (103).

SEF agreements require partner schools to pay employees market-based salaries through bank transfers.

The contracts also state that schools must pay staff according to prevailing market rates.

However, school operators claim SEF inspectors mainly check student attendance and basic facilities during routine visits.

They say inspectors rarely review salary records or verify whether schools follow wage agreements.

Operators also claim that SEF links subsidy payments to the number of students present during inspections instead of total enrolment. They argue that this policy creates pressure to maximise attendance on inspection days.

Amir Haider, who runs an SEF-supported primary school in Mirpurkhas, acknowledged that teachers receive low salaries.

He said rising operating costs and limited government subsidies make it difficult for school operators to increase wages.

Haider urged the government to raise the per-student subsidy so schools can pay teachers at least the official minimum wage while continuing to serve underserved communities.