51 the growing competition of cheaper schools. Arrangements are being made for opening a secondary school at Zagazig in October next.

The number of private secondary schools under the inspection of the Ministry of Education rose from six in 1914, with an attendance of 1,508 pupils, to thirty-three in 1919, with 4,588 pupils enrolled. Only ten of these schools, however, were eligible fur a grant-in-aid, as tlie remainder provided only half of the recognised secondary course. In consequence’of the increased cost of maintenance the Ministry has found it neues&ary to double its usual grants. The Ministry has further assisted the three largest of these private schools by seconding selected members of its pensionable stall as headmasters. Besides these schools under the inspection of the Ministry of Education, there are some thirty Egyptian secondary schools, with an attendance of 1,645, which are not under the department’s inspection, as compared with twentyone schools attended by 2,121 pupils in 1914. Most of these schools are very inelhcient, and make no attempt to provide instruction beyond the first two years of the secondary course. The mushroom growth of inefficient private secondary schools presents a serious educational and social problem, which is engaging the careful attention of the Ministry.

The secondary education certificate examination continues to be held in two parts (viz., at the middle and end of the secondary course).

Part I has revealed in recent years progressive deterioration in the quality of the work coincident with an expansion in the number of candidates, as will be seen from the following figures Year.

1914 191') 19IG 1917 1918 lerconfcuye Succertsfiil.

Per cent.

f)2 .3-1 33 2G 19 The decline was general in all categories of schools, but was much more marked in the private schools. The greatest source of weakness was the English language, in which 76 per cent, of the canclidates failed. A commission, which was appointed to investigate the matter, attributed the deterioration in the attainments of the candidates in English to the largeness of the classes, the partial temporary transfer of the teaching to Egyptians, and the general inefficiency of the organisation and staffing of the private secondary schools. An effort is being made to remedy the defects as far as they concern the Government schools.

In Part II the results have been as follows;— Year.

1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1,074 920 1,38G 1,229 1,341 Jercentage Successful.

Per cent.

52 50 '10 49 35 The percentage of success among Government school candidates in both Parts I and II was generally about double that among candidates from the private schools.

Strikes dislocated all arrangements for the public examinations in 1919. Eor the secondary examinations, eventually held in September, the results were as follows:— Parti I’art II Percentage Successful.

Per cent.

86 40 [3437 jf—2] H 2 House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.