An attempt to introduce approved citizenship lessons for madrassas, or religious schools, will be announced today in a move aimed at isolating extremism in Muslim communities.

Ruth Kelly, the Communities Secretary, will outline plans to extend to a series of Yorkshire towns a government-funded citizenship curriculum developed by local mosques.

The curriculum, so far taught in one school and five mosques in Bradford, comprises 30 model lessons on citizenship that encourage community work, highlight Koranic teachings on respect and tolerance, and emphasise the place it places on human life.

Ten imams in Bradford have been trained to teach citizenship and to speak better English, with an emphasis on sharing British values of justice, peace and respect.

Ms Kelly is expected to say that, with 100,000 Muslim children attending madrassas, she hopes all religious schools include such citizenship classes in their curriculum.

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