ISLAMABAD: March 11. A majority of students enrolled in local schools support the idea of equal rights for religious minorities, according to a sample study released this week. Between 68 and 85 percent of the students in English medium schools recognised the need for granting equal opportunities to Christians, Hindus and Ahmedis in the jobs market. But the author of the study, Dr. Tariq Rehman of Quaid-e-Azam University, noted that the tolerance level among schoolteachers of Urdu-medium schools was measurably lower than their pupils and the teachers and students of English-medium schools. A clear majority of teachers recorded their displeasure over the equality of Ahmedis, Hindus and Christians with other job seekers from the majority population. Between 27 percent and 45 percent of such schoolteachers however backed equal rights for the religious minorities. Yet in English medium schools just between 4-14 percent of male students and 12-14 percent females were opposed to equality in the workplace. Whereas the level of opposition in Urdu-medium schools was much higher, touching 40 percent for Hindus and Ahmedis. Those surveyed in Urdu medium schools appeared more tolerant of Christians than those of other faiths, with over 65 percent backing equal rights for them. Dr. Rehman says most Pakistani students attend provincial- or federal- government schools where the medium of instruction is Urdu. The approval rating of Christians is higher than that of Hindus and Ahmedis in both types of schools. "Female pupils and teachers in Urdu mediums schools are somewhat more tolerant of minorities than males. However, in the case of Hindus the males tend to be more tolerant," Dr Rehman observed in his analysis of the data. "Boys [in English medium schools] are slightly more tolerant of Ahmedis and Christians than girls," he said. The study was based on the responses of 115 students and 65 teachers of English medium schools and that of 100 teachers and 230 pupils of Urdu-medium institutions. The respondents were also asked whether they favoured gender equality and jihad in Kashmir. The divide between Urdu and English medium schools was again visible. Between 73 and 43 percent male and female students in English mediums schools oppose the concept of liberating Kashmir by force, while the same idea is backed by 38 percent males and 26 percent females in Urdu medium schools. Thirty-nine percent male pupils and 57 percent females in those schools, however, oppose a jihad in Kashmir. According to Dr. Rehman, female teachers in English medium schools appear to favour militant policies in Kashmir slightly more than their male colleagues, while males teachers in urdu medium schools support militant policies regarding Kashmir far more than females. 65 percent backing equal rights for them. Dr. Rehman says most Pakistani students attend provincial- or federal- government schools where the medium of instruction is Urdu. The approval rating of Christians is higher than that of Hindus and Ahmedis in both types of schools. "Female pupils and teachers in Urdu mediums schools are somewhat more tolerant of minorities than males. However, in the case of Hindus the males tend to be more tolerant," Dr Rehman observed in his analysis of the data. "Boys [in English medium schools] are slightly more tolerant of Ahmedis and Christians than girls," he said. The study was based on the responses of 115 students and 65 teachers of English medium schools and that of 100 teachers and 230 pupils of Urdu-medium institutions. The respondents were also asked whether they favoured gender equality and jihad in Kashmir. The divide between Urdu and English medium schools was again visible. Between 73 and 43 percent male and female students in English mediums schools oppose the concept of liberating Kashmir by force, while the same idea is backed by 38 percent males and 26 percent females in Urdu medium schools. Thirty-nine percent male pupils and 57 percent females in those schools, however, oppose a jihad in Kashmir. According to Dr. Rehman, female teachers in English medium schools appear to favour militant policies in Kashmir slightly more than their male colleagues, while males teachers in urdu medium schools support militant policies regarding Kashmir far more than females.