News and stories
News from the schools, stories from pupils and teachers, and the challenges our supporters take on.
A tribute to Miss Saira Said Ahmed
Five years after her passing on 13 September 2021, we remember Miss Saira Said Ahmed, the first woman to lead the Kashmir Education Foundation, with our tribute statement in full.
Back to school at Soan Valley
Soan Valley Public School and the Joan Atkinson College reopened on 24 August 2026, after a month that included Independence Day and Eid Milad-un-Nabi. Pearl Valley and Banjosa Valley were closed because of unrest in Rawalakot.
New leadership at Acklam Grange School
Congratulations to Michael Laidler and Andrew Hassack on their new roles at Acklam Grange School in Middlesbrough, one of the English schools with links to Pearl Valley Public School.
About us
Quest for Education Foundation (QEF) is a UK registered charity (England and Wales, no. 1142569). Since 2011 we have raised funds and given strategic support to the Kashmir Education Foundation (KEF), which opened its first school in 1996.
KEF runs schools in rural Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) where places do not depend on a family’s ability to pay, and a college that trains women as teachers.
Progress you can see
KEF opened its first school, Pearl Valley Public School in Rawalakot, on 14 August 1996. Today we support three schools and the Joan Atkinson College of Teacher Education, which trains women as primary teachers.
Pearl Valley alumni have gone on to universities including LUMS, NUST and Bahria. Pearl Valley’s library holds more than 15,000 books, and Soan Valley’s Anna Finn library more than 10,000.
Pupils in class at Pearl Valley Public School, Rawalakot.
1996
KEF’s first school opens
3
schools and a teacher training college
1,250
teachers trained by KEF
2011
the year we began supporting KEF
The schools and college we support
KEF runs each school and the college; we raise funds and support for them in the UK. Choose a school to read its story and see its photographs.
Find out more
Three parts of our work, each explained in more detail on its own page.
Girls’ education
Girls learn alongside boys at every school we support, and the college trains only women as teachers. Families choose to send their daughters to school; we help make that possible.
Teacher training
The Joan Atkinson College of Teacher Education in Bassali trains women as primary teachers. One well-trained teacher reaches generations of pupils.
Zakat and Sadaqah
What Zakat can and cannot pay for under Hanafi guidance, and how Sadaqah Jariyah helps build classrooms, train teachers and keep schools open.
Our values
Three values guide how we work with KEF, our supporters and each other.
Passion
We are driven by a desire to help children achieve their potential.
Equality
We believe all children have equal worth and equal rights.
Transparency
We keep our records open to our donors and to the public.
Sir David Green KCMG CVO, patron of QEF. Photo: Jesse Willems.
From our patron
The students were highly motivated and I was particularly struck by their level of confidence generally and their proficiency in English.
Ways to give
Your gift supports the schools and college we fund through KEF. Choose the way that suits you.
Donate
Give once or monthly through JustGiving. General donations and Sadaqah support pupils, teachers and the running of the schools and college.
Zakat
Read what Zakat can and cannot pay for under Hanafi guidance, and how to give your Zakat through QEF.
Fundraise
Climb a mountain, cycle, abseil or host a dinner, as our supporters have done over the years. Our fundraising page explains how to start.