DZMS

Dr. Zareef Memorial School (DZMS) is one of the pioneer non-profit projects of the ZKF established in 1988 and was housed in a rented building from 1995 to 2015. At present, it is providing good quality education to 192 children aged four to ten This school caters for the needs of the eastern periphery of Peshawar city. It has 15 female teachers.

From January 1988, low cost but good quality education was provided to children aged 4 to 15 years as its level grew up from Primary to High gradually until 2014 when the student strength had risen to 680 and when it was decided by the Management to bring back its level in phases each year to Primary to cater for age groups from 4 to 10 years (Classes Nursery to Five). Presently, the mixed student strength is 192 in our non-profit school which is registered with the PSRA department of Govt. of KP and where 15 female teachers are employed having the best Teacher-Student ratio in the world. Besides, the local female Principals / Head Teachers, British and Australian educationists also headed the School namely Mrs. Margaret Edwards & Ms. Amanda Edwards from UK (1991 to 1993) and Sister Patricia Kennedy of Dominican Convent in Adelaide, Australia (1994 to 2008). Day to Day management and affairs are mostly run by the lady staff members.

In addition to other specialties, the school focuses on maintaining high standards in spoken English, cleanliness, personal hygiene, etiquette, character development, and handwriting. Students are encouraged to appreciate nature, engage in book reading and review writing, and explore their creativity through artwork. The school also has a library with 5,000 books, mostly donated by Australians, a computer lab where students learn basic computer skills and typing.

DZMS is the only School in its category in the province / country which has proudly achieved the following standards:

• Spoken English from age seven up (100 %)
• Independent thinking approach from age four up
• Child Centered Learning methodologies from beginning
• Every child a public speaker in English and Urdu languages after age six
• Every child capable of doing project work after age nine
• Art and current affairs part of the curriculum
• Best used library from age seven up and books lent
• Introduction to computers from age eight up
• Best teacher-student ratio
• Cool School (conflict resolution by students)

In the year 2000, Sr. Kennedy was instrumental in raising funds back home to establish a top of the range (P-II) computer lab with nine PCs / Units which were linked by networking. It was commissioned and named Kennedy Computer Lab. She was also instrumental in raising funds and collecting books for the library which boasts nearly 5000 books.

The school policy endeavors to produce such youth who will seriously consider to adopt the interests and / or professions in the field of biodiversity, teaching and sports besides others. Field trips to wildlife parks, pheasantries, industries and museums are organised besides art and speeches on the subject.

DZMS mission may seem different than most schools in Pakistan because it aims to build the personality of a child as a whole rather than only bookish knowledge.