PESHAWAR: Provincial government`s Focus Group on Education Reforms has expressed concern over the lack of basic facilities in public sector schools in Peshawar district, where 0.2 million children are out of school.

The concern was voiced at a consultative meeting of the Group atUniversity Town here on Monday.

Members of the group, including JPs Kashif Azam, JUI-F`s Arbab Farooq Ahmad, PTPs Mujeeb-urRehman Khalil and Naila Naz, representatives of civil society and teachers` community were in attendance.

During the discussion, Sadiq Tareen, consultant of the Institute of Social and Policy Sciences (ISPS), gave a detailed presentationon district education profile of Peshawar and challenges and how to address them.

He told the participants that in Peshawar district a total of 746 schools, including primary, middle, high and higher secondary, required complete or major rehabilitation, 430 lacked electricity, 200 drinking water, 75 lacked latrines and 46 were without boundary wall.

Mr Tareen informed the meetingthat 43 per cent of children of Peshawar district never attended school against 57 per cent who went to school. He said that out of the total enrolled children only 46 per cent completed primary education.

He told the participants that 35 per cent (0.2 million) children were still out of schools with transition rate from class-V to VI being 81 per cent. He added that gender parity index at primary level was 0.69 percent and 0.58 at secondary level. On the face of it, he said the government was spending very little per annum at the schools of Peshawar.

Imran Inam, the provincial representative of ISPS, appreciated the participants for their proposals regarding improvement in the education system in the province. He said that the institute would continue seeking feedback from the civil society in this regard.