Washington: The US hopes to prevent generations of Pakistani students from joining madrasas – "where terrorists find some of their recruits" – by helping to "rebuild" and strengthen the school education system, according to US Agency for International Development (USAID).

A five-year, $ 100 million US programme will rebuild "the failing educational system that has sent thousands of youths to religious madrasa schools, where terrorists found some of their recruits," says the latest issue of 'Frontlines', a USAID publication.

"Bringing better primary education, health care and more jobs to Pakistan's growing poor is the best insurance for sustained support against al-Qaida and a direct assault on the recruiting grounds for the next generation of terrorists," said USAID's Pakistan mission director, Mark Ward.

USAID notes that only 24 per cent of Pakistani women and 50 per cent of Pakistani men can read. One-third of the country's children do not attend elementary school. For every 100 children who begin first grade, only six complete grade 12.

One Pakistani farmer told 'Frontlines' that he could not send his children to school because they had only torn clothing and could not pay for fees, note books and pencils.

The farmer said he sent one son to a madrasa, where the boy received a free shirt and food, but was taught to memorise the Koran in Arabic – which he did not understand. Nor did he learn to read and write Urdu.

USAID's programme in Pakistan will include improved training for teachers and administrators and expanded youth and adult literacy programmes.

PTI