NATORE. Sept 8: The Islamic Foundation office here has claimed 95 per cent impiemen tauon of the Mosque based in legrated Nonformal Education Programme (MINEP) since its introduction in 1993, reports UNB.

Official sources said about 1.500 people of different age groups in sadar Bariagram and Gurudaspur thanas of the district are enrolled every year in 45 MINEP centres of the foun da non

Introduced on January 1. 1993. on experimental basis

with trained Imams and instructors. the foundation ex tended its programme following encouraging response from the local people

MINER centres now run in two shifts have been conducting one and two year courses for the children of age groups between four and five years and six and 10 years

The boys between 11 and 14 years of age and persons be tween 15 and 35 years are being given one year long' course finder the programme students above 10 years are taught mathematics Bangia and Arabic while children between six and 10 years are taught English additionally to prepare them for admission in Class III of primary schools.

Religious instructions with particular emphasis on learning manners and basic instructions to perform Namaz are also included in the programme. Equipment used tn the programme are supplied free of cost to the participants

District Islamic Foundation has appointed 45 trained Imams as instructors and three librarians for the MINEP

Deputy Director of the foundation MA Shakur told UNB that the class attendance was rated 90 per cent but it is necessary to introduce Food for Education programme to ensure cent per cent attendance

Supervisor of MINEP Mu-jharul Islam said initial suspicion of the local people who thought the programme was part of NGO activity was quickly removed and the pec pie. realising the importance and significance of the pro gramme, extended their whole hearted cooperation.

He said there were demands for extending the programme to the rural areas but it could not be possible for lack of transport facility