LANDI KOTAL: The Bara-based proscribed militant organisation, Lashkar-i-Islam, has asked all the private schools to ensure teaching of Quran and devise a uniform curriculum.

Sources said that the LI had, a few days back, convened a meeting of all the owners and heads of the private schools in Bara and warned them of stern action if they failed to implement a uniform curriculum and teach Quran in their respective schools.

The participants of the meeting were also told to reduce tuition fee and adopt same uniform for all schools. They were also told to provide free books to the needy students and devise a policy for promoting religious education in the private educational institutions.

Confirming the ‘orders’ issued by the LI, president of Bara private schools association, Asghar Afridi, said that there were over 300 private schools in Bara and they were all told to abide by the LI orders. He said that a committee would be formed to devise a uniform curriculum for all private schools so as to meet the LI demand. Except for Bar Qambar Khel area,

government schools in the rest of Bara subdivision have been closed since 2009. Officials said that over 100 government schools had been destroyed by militants in retaliation to military operation in the area.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2014