Education systems around the world need to teach pupils about the "virtue of religious respect", according to the former UK prime minister.

Tony Blair said in an article for the BBC, as part of its Knowledge Economy series, that a united, global effort is required to transform our understanding of religion from an early age.

This, he explained, will help tackle religious extremism and should therefore, in part, be thought of in a similar light to ongoing efforts to "root out racism" and promote sustainability.

Catholic schools will continue to teach their children the virtues of the Catholic faith, Muslim countries will continue to teach their children the value of being Muslim, Mr Blair outlined in his piece for the broadcaster.

"But we should all teach that people who have a different faith are to be treated equally and respected as such. And we should take care to root out teaching that inspires hatred or hostility."

The former MP, who launched the Tony Blair Foundation in 2008 to "promote respect and understanding of and between the major religions", said that it will be a difficult task.

In his essay, he elaborated by pointing to the fact that a "tide of young people" are exposed to religious teachings that are parochial, "exclusive [and reactionary]".

This, he continued, went against the very ideas promoted by a globalised world "whose hallmark" is the coming together of people from different background.

"So unless we tackle this question with the honesty and openness it demands, then all the security measures and all the fighting will count for nothing," Mr Blair added.

"As I have said before, especially foolish is the idea that we leave this process of the generational deformation of the mind undisturbed, at the same time as we spend billions on security relationships to counter the very threat we allow to be created."