49 8 '■ ■> The report formulates a scheme by which the Provincial Councils would be placed under a statutory obligation to provide efficient elementary schools, within a maximum period of twenty years, in every town and village, for 10 per cent, of the total population. The accomplishment of this requirement would raise school attendance in Egjpt to the same level as in the less advanced European States. The capital cost for sites and buildings for schools is estimated at million pounds, spread over twenty years, whilst the ultimate cost for the maintenance of the elementary schools and the training colleges for elementary teachers is estimated at over 2 million pounds a year. Since these estimates were framed there has been a considerable rise in commodity prices and in the pay of teachers, and the figures are now undoubtedly too low. The cost would be borne in a fixed ratio by the State and the Provincial Councils.

The consummation of this scheme would, it is clear, completely transform the outlook in Egypt, and would give hope of better success for all efforts towards the amelioration of the condition of the people. All that has happened since the report was submitted has confirmed the arguments on which the proposals are based, and has made it more necessary to deal with the question. The education of the masses is an essential step in the "wider participation of the people in the government of the country.

The Ministry of Education has not allowed the recent difficult years to elapse without taking advantage of such concrete opportunities as offered for the improvement and extension of elementary education. In the 134 elementary schools (maktabs) managed by the Ministry of Education the teachers are now paid fixed salaries instead of having to depend mainly upon school fees. The staff has been reinforced, and school buildings and equipment have been improved, the course of study has been revised, and medical inspection has been introduced. In these 134 elementary schools 9,524 boys and 8,779 girls are now receiving fairly efficient instruction, as compared with 8,615 boys and 5,401 girls in the 142 elementary schools managed by the Ministry of Education in 1914.

Com])rised in this increase is the experiment inaugurated in 1917 in Alexandria by the Ministry of Education in co-operation with the municipality. Twenty-four private maktabs have been acquired oy purchase from their owners, and converted into municipal elementary schools. This alteration in status has enabled the Ministry of Education to effect a complete reformation in these schools, where 2,254 boys and 1,498 girls are in attendance. The Ministry now contributes £E. 6,285 annually to the cost, and the Alexandria municipality £E. 5,855.

In 1918 Messrs. Cozzika and Co., distillers of industrial alcohol, generously presented to the Ministry of Education an elementary school which they had ereeted and equipped at Tura, between Cairo and Helwan, at a cost of £E. 10,000, together with £9,000 Egyptian Unified Stock as an endowment.

The Provincial Councils maintain 484 elementary schools, which are attended by 30,238 boys and 8,937 girls. They also give grants-in-aid to 2,832 private elementary schools within their areas, whilst the Ministry of Education gives grantsin-aid to 450 private elementary schools in the governorates and (exceptionally) in Assouan province. These private elementary schools are attended by 177,491 boys and 24,726 girls. All of these schools are regularly inspected by the Ministry, and the grants-in-aid to the private schools are in general awarded in conformity with the reports of the inspectors.

The devaluation of money has thrown an increased burden on the resources of the Provincial Councils, and has made it necessary for them to raise the supplementary tax from 5 per cent, (at which it generally stood before the war) to 7 per cent, and 8 per cent., and even in one case to 10 per cent. Some of the councils have found it necessary to close certain of their schools as a measure of economy, but the Ministry of Education is coming to their aid.

One of the most promising developments in connection with vernacular education is the institution in 1916 of higher elementary schools for boys and girls, in which the course begins where the elementary course leaves off. The Ministry of Education now maintains one school for boys and five for girls, and has made provision for opening a boys’ higher elementary school at Alexandria. These schools are attended by 207 boys and 464 girls. The Provincial Councils also maintain 18 higher elementary schools which are attended by 1,370 boys.

The boys’ higher elementary schools are of two types, urban and rural, and the course in each extends over four years. The scheme of work for niral scliools provides for lessons in rural science and nature study, mensuration and surveying [3437 y—2] H House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.