ISLAMABAD, Dec 12: The government has decided to set up a federal board to supervise the affairs of religious educational institutions, including syllabus.

According to sources, religious education will be streamlined on modern lines by including general and science subjects. Science, English, mathematics and computer will be declared compulsory.

Under the scheme, the federal government would provide equipment, including computers, free of charge to the religious institutions for information technology training.

The sources said that the students graduating from the Madaris will have to pass exams of four subjects which would qualify them to secondary school certificates.

A chairman, equivalent in post to university vice-chancellor, will be the chief of the 13-member federal religious institutions board.

The federal religious affairs and education ministries will supervise the activities of the board.

According to sources, the project is a part of the government’s scheme to regularise religious education.

Under the scheme, all the religious institution will be brought into the mainstream education system of the country.

The sources said that the recruitment of information technology teaching staff would begin after Eid and employment would be provided to about 25,000 persons.