The Community Model Schools (CMS) program is the National Education Foundation’s (NEF) flagship initiative, launched in 2000 to provide quality education in areas where neither public nor private institutions are available. These schools are established in disadvantaged areas for underserved communities, ensuring that children affected by poverty gain access to learning opportunities.

Currently, NEF operates 45 CMS schools in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK)—specifically in Bagh, Hattian Bala, and Muzaffarabad—serving a total of 3,892 students (1,961 boys and 1,931 girls) employing 138 teachers.

Key features of the CMS Program include:

Community-Based Approach: CMS schools are established within a 2 km radius where no other school exists. Local communities actively participate by providing land, shelter, or covering the rent of the school buildings/rooms

NEF Support: NEF ensures sustainability by providing free textbooks, teacher honorarium, annual teacher training, and regular monitoring of schools.

Empowering Women: The program has empowered 126 women by hiring them as teachers. This not only promotes gender equity and local employment but also helps overcome cultural and mobility barriers, enabling women to support their households and serve as role models in their communities.

Inclusive and Accountable Governance: The CMS model emphasizes strong community involvement in both the establishment and day-to-day management of schools. They have a supervisory role in the CMS model. This inclusive approach fosters local ownership, enhances accountability, and ensures education delivery is responsive to the unique needs of each community.