ISLAMABAD: In the wake of the current wave of terrorism in the country, educational institutions in the federal capital have been put on high security alert.

The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) on Monday said it would be sending security-related instructions to the institutions by Tuesday.

Steps to enhance security have been taken for the safety of students and teachers both in the public and private sector institutions, it has been learnt.

It may be mentioned that on October 20, 2009, two suicide attackers targeted the girls’ campus of the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), leaving six people, including three students, dead.

The principal of a model college for girls on the condition of anonymity told Dawn that because of the worsening security situation all over the country she had increased the security of the institution.

“Every day one teacher is assigned the task to come early and have a round of the school and tell me if there is anything suspicious,” she said.

“I have taken the step because the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has the history of attacking girls’ schools. As the hideouts of the militants in the federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) are being shelled by security forces, there is the possibility of retaliation from the TTP,” she said.

The principal of a model college for boys added that there was an equal threat to the educational institutions for boys.

“I have instructed the staff deputed at the main gate of the college not to allow anyone to enter the premises unless they produced their computerised national identity card (CNIC). Under the prevailing situation, we have to be very careful to avoid any untoward incident,” he said.

The administrator of a private school said private educational institutions had already adopted strict security measures.

“Not only extremists have objections over the syllabus and other activities of private educational institutions but also children of very important personalities are studying in the private institutions. So the threat of attacks on private educational institutions is more,” he said.When contacted, Mehmood Akhtar Malik, the acting director general of the FDE, said during the meeting of the principals the participants were directed to increase vigilance in the educational institutions.

“We have to be ready for any situation. The principals have been instructed to ensure safety of students in their respective institutions,” he said.

“I am considering sending the security-related instructions in writing by Tuesday to the 423 institutions working under the FDE because security of students is our first priority,” added Mr Malik.