In Swat, 400 schools shut doors on girls

ISLAMABAD: About 400 private schools in Pakistan's troubled northwestern Swat region have stopped offering education to girls following the end
of a Taliban deadline to discontinue the practice, depriving over 40,000 students of their basic right.

Besides, another 84,248 girl students of state-run schools are unlikely to attend classes
due to warnings from the militants despite the local administration's declaration to reopen the institutions on March 1.

A body representing 400 private schools has decided to discontinue girls' education after the ongoing winter vacation despite assurances from the administration that security will be provided to them, the News daily said.

Meanwhile, the federal government said it would cooperate with the administration of the North West Frontier Province in taking steps to protect girls' educational institutions in Swat and some other areas.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/400_schools_shut_doors_on_girls_in_Pak/articleshow/3991228.cms