According to a Benazir Income Support Programme report, the problem is particularly serious in merged tribal districts, where poverty, cultural barriers and a lack of infrastructure have converged to create education challenges, reported Dawn News.

The report pointed out that 74.4 per cent of girls and 38.5 per cent of boys in KP are out of school.

The report showed Upper Kohistan, North Waziristan and Bajaur remain the worst-hit districts.

Dr Mohammad Naeem from the University of Peshawar told Dawn News that millions of children were being denied their constitutional right to free education until grade 10 due to poverty, social constraints and a lack of government infrastructure.

Local media reports, quoting the report, said many households across the province, especially in remote areas like Kolai-Palas, Tank and South Waziristan, children are being pulled from classrooms to work in fields, brick kilns, or roadside shops.

A local mother said she wanted to see the presence of qualified teachers in the school.

Sumbal Bibi, a mother of five in Nowshera district, told Dawn News: "We have seen announcements before about education reforms and bringing out of schools children besides abolishing double standards of education."

She further said: "But what we need are qualified teachers who show up, classrooms that don’t leak in the rain, boundary walls for the security of children and toilets for our daughters.”