KOHAT: The education department has formed 24 teams for collection of data about the out-of-school children in the Kohat district so they could be enrolled. The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by deputy commissioner Abdul Akram here on Tuesday. District education officers for men and women, Mr Zahoor and Razia Sultana, were also present. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Akram called on the district education officers to keep close contact with the parents and convince them to enroll their children. He emphasised that enlightening the new generation with the ornament of modern education was the need of the hour, and for this purpose, they had to use all their available resources. The deputy commissioner said no nation could make progress without education. Talking to Dawn after the meeting, DEO women Razia Sultana said that primarily the absence of buildings in remote areas and an insufficient number of teachers were factors contributing to the children not going to schools. She said poverty, lack of any long-term policy, and heavy expenses also contributed to the growing number of out-of-school children. Ms Sultana said there were more than 1,350 primary, middle, high, and higher secondary schools in Kohat, in addition to the seminaries, where a large number of students were also enrolled. EDO men Mr Zahoor said the one-week deadline set by the deputy commissioner for the task to be done was rather unrealistic, and said he would urge the DC to extend the deadline. A three-day workshop for the training of farmers concluded in Orakzai district on Tuesday. About 100 farmers were imparted training on sowing of medicinal, aromatic plants, saffron and black seed. It was organised by the Directorate of Non-Timber Forest Production (NTFP). Agriculture officer Irfanullah and Noor Shad Ali of NTFP imparted training to the farmers. They also distributed tools among the farmers.