Tens of millions of Pakistani children will struggle to lay their hands on the book written by Malala Yousafzai, after the organisation representing Pakistan’s private schools decided to ban it.

The book, written jointly by the teenage education campaigner who was shot last year by the Taliban, and a British journalist, Christina Lamb, was published last month to widespread international enthusiasm. The 16-year-old tells of her life in the Swat Valley – where her father ran a private school – when it was under Taliban rule, of writing an anonymous blog for the BBC, and of her campaign for girls’ education.

The All Pakistan Private Schools Federation said it believed the book was not entirely respectful of Islam.