MANSEHRA, Nov 24: Provincial Minister for Higher Education Qazi Mohammad Asad has said that at least 2.6 million children of school-going age were out of school in NWFP. “Despite the huge expenditure on education in the province, public sector educational institutions are far behind as compared to the results and performance of the private educational institutions and government is striving hard to enhance the standard and performance of the government run institutions,” he said while speaking at the 22nd annual parents day and prize distribution ceremony of Mansehra Public School and College here on Monday.

Among others, Minister for Revenue Habibur Rehman Tanoli, chairman of school Shahjahain Khan, UNFPA district in charge Dr Mohammad Ali, DCO Israr Khan and principal Umer Gul were also present on the occasion.

Mr Asad said that all the four provinces were agreed to introduce the same curriculum and exam system for the public and private sectors educational institutions as some time it was difficult for a student to migrate from one province to other because of the big difference in the timing of examination system.

He said that provincial government was striving hard to brig major changes in the existing educational system as over 260,000 students were out of the schools, which was higher in the country.

“To bring at par the female of the backward area of Tanawal, a girls’ degree collage will be established there,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion Mr Tanoli said that like other fields, big changes were introduced to the revenue department.

He said that government should bring major changes in the existing educational system in the province, as without the education province could not be put on the path of prosperity and progress in any field.On the occasion, students of the school also presented tubules and skits.

At the end, Mr Tanoli gave away shields, trophies and certificates to the students on their outstanding performance in curricular and extra-curricular activities.