Experts debate steps to bring out-of-school children into mainstream.

ISLAMABAD -- The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training and the World Bank (WB) held a national workshop to create pathways for mainstreaming out-of-school children on Tuesday.

The workshop was attended by representatives from education departments, foundations and donor organisations.

Despite gains in recent years, 32pc of all school-age children are still out of school - about 20 million girls and boys. The challenges for groups within the out-of-school children (OOSC) population vary - some are attending non-formal literacy programmes and some are closer to graduating out-of-school age bracket (5-16 years).

According to a press release, the workshop used strategic 'design thinking' to create pathways to mainstream out-of-school children so that they are able to access their constitutional right to free quality education. The focus of the workshop was the most vulnerable groups within the out-of-school population.

Additional Secretary Education Waseem Ajmal opened the session saying, 'the composition of people here today is...