57 8.11 same time to meet the requirements of those for whom the present arrangements make no provision, namely, those who wish to pursue a higher course of study for the sake of general culture, without reference to any particular profession or career. Fm’ther, the long and varied history of Egypt, as well as its geographical situation and its position in the Moslem world, clearly point to the appropriateness of Cairoas a seat for a college of oriental studies. At present Egypt, in spite of incomparable advantages, provides no opportunities (such as exist in the most important European universities) for acquiring a literary knowledge of the languages that are cognate with Arabic and of the comparative philology of the Semitic languages, or of the languages of Ancient Egypt, or for the investigation of the many literary, archeological, historical and philosophical questions on which these studies throw light. The time has come for the creation of higher courses of study of the true university type—in particular, a faculty of letters, a faculty of science and a faculty of oriental studies. The establishment of these three faculties would) give a large measure of completeness to the provision for higher education. Brought into proper correlation under a single authority the higher colleges would then form a real university, with a wide variety of courses.

A commission was appointed by Sir Adly Yeghen Pasha in 1917 to consider this question. In 1918 it presented a preliminary report, but no effective steps were taken thereupon. The question is now being pressed forward with a view to early effect being given to the proposals.

37. Egyptian Students in Europe.

In 1914, before the outbreak of war, fifty-two students were being maintained by the Ministry of Education in Europe, 46 in England and 6 in France. Therewere also some 700 Egyptians who were studying in Europe at their own expense 209 of the 373 private students in England, 60 out of 139 in France, 13 out of 64 in Switzerland, and 5 out of 18 in Belgium, or in general somewhat under 50 per cent, had placed themselves under the care of the director of the mission in London, Paris,, or Geneva. This proportion increased with the difficulties created by the war to 60-per cent, in 1915, 66 per cent, in 1916, 71 per cent, in 1917, and 80 per cent, in 1918.

The number of Egjptian students in. the United Kingdom, France and Switzerland at the end of 1919 was as follows :— United Kingdom I'rance. Switzerland.

Government students Private students— Supervised Unsupervised ..

Total ..

31 189 35 140 14 255 154 25 12 37 Total.

31 354 61 446 The conduct of the supervised students has continued to improve, and there have been few cases of misbehaviour to report. In spite of political unrest the relations of the students with the directors of the missions have on. the whole remained very friendly. The chief difficulties with which the directors had to contend were co’inected with the health and financial affairs of the students. From the beginning of the scheme of supervision in 1913 up to the end of 1918, a sum of approximately £E. 39,000 was sent through the Minist to the mission office in London, about £E. 1,800 to the Paris office, and ubout £E. 4,300 to the Geneva office, on behalf of private students. Many of the students who obtained qualifications in England and France during the war, especially medical students, elected to remain abroad and obtained immediate and well-paiu employment.

An unprecedentedly large number of Egyptian youths are leaving Egypt at thepi’osent time for Europe, principally for Berlin and Vienna, with the purposes of study more or less definite; 150 are reported to have left recently by a single steamer. This movement may be ascribed to a variety of causes: the lack of accommodation in some of the higher colleges in Cairo, the great difficulty of obtaining admission to the overcrowded universities of the United Kingdom, political motives, a belief in the excellence of the. education to be obtained in Germany and Austria, and.

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