40 Since that date, verbal negotiations have been proceeding witli the Powers who have not so far accepted the project, and tlie present position is that all the Great PoAvers liave adhered except France and Russia.

The complementary proposal for the adoption of the Torrens s}’'stem of registration of title was also put forward in May 1903 and discussed by the Plenary Commission in January 1901. It was approved by the Sub-Commission in A])ril 1908, and by ten Powers at a meeting of the Plenary Commission in the following month. The text was communicated to the Powers in June 1908, and, at the present time, has been accepted by all except France and tlussia.

The proposal for the modification of Article 12 of the Mixed Civil Code is of great importance to the Egyptian Government, as its acceptance would to a certain extent mitigate the evils which at present result from the existing unworkable system of legislating for Europeans. It is proposed that alterations in tlie Mixed Codes, with tlie exception of such as concern the actual organization of the Mixed IVibunals, should in future be enacted by the Egyptian Government in agreement with the majority of a body composed of the judges of the Mixed Court of Appeal and one judge from each of the countries not represented in that court. The scheme was originally put forward in January 1905, discussed by the Plenary Commission and sent to the Sub-Commission in March of that year. In view of divergence of opinion in the Sub-Commission, the project was withdrawn for a time, and subsequently presented again by the Government in March 1909. At the meeting of the Plenary Commission held in the May following, there was a large majority in favour of the ]n’oject, provided an amendment were introduced making it necessary that new legislation should be approved by a two-thirds majority. This the Government Avould be willing to accept, as being in any case a considerable improvement on the existing state of affairs, which requires the separate consent of each country.

IX. EDUCATION.

45. General.

The Ministry of Education has under its direct management 144 elementary vernacular schools (Kuttabs); 6 normal schools for training teachers for Kuttabs, including one for women ; 32 higher primary schools for boys and 2 for girls ; 5 technical and ti’ades schools ; the three professional colleges of medicine, laAv, and engineering; 3 training colleges for teachers ; and the school for Kadis. The attendance at these institutions on the 31st December last, as compared with previous years, was as follows:— 1890. ! 1895.

Government Kuttabs Institutions for training teachers for Kuttabs Higher primary schools Technical and trades schools Secondary schools .. Professional colleges Studying abroad 1,901 5,701 893 734 382 28 2,025 7,333 393 684 249 12 6,489 377 569 288 4 1900. ! 1905.

8,906 7,410 ! 1,478 7,175 675 1,345 7:3 2 1906.

9,045 2,939 7,918 769 1,380 902 3 1907. 1908.

11,014 2,978 8,544 859 l,9i0 1,304 02 12,369 2,788 8,585 819 2,113 1,.511 40 1909.

13,365 2,747 8,386 854 2,243 1,548 55 In addition to these Government institutions, the Ministry has under inspection the following private establishments :— Attendance. 3,582 KntUabs .. .. ., .. .. .. 190,875 13 Higher primary schools .. ., .. 3,517 7 Trades schools .. .. ., .. .. .. 843 1 Training school for nurses and raid wives .. .. .. 29 The Ghizeh Reformatory .. .. .. 726 In accordance- with the provisions of the recent law under which the Provincial Councils have become the local education authorities and have been entrusted with the House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.