Page 356 - UAE Truncal States

The External Influences
others it was adopted by the federal Ministry and paid for by Abu
Dhabi; the last few kilometres were completed in asphalt during the
summer of 1970.
The large amount and high quality of road construction which was
completed, in particular during the first five years of the existence of
the United Arab Emirates, completely overshadows everything
which the Development Office had achieved during its lifetime.
However, using limited funds it had opened up the country
sufficiently to enable even the outlying communities to benefit from
new facilities offered in the towns, such as medical care, and to bring
markets within reach of agricultural producers. The Development
Office had also identified priorities and with the help of specialised
surveys laid the foundations for the speedy implementation of
various projects by the federal authorities.

Education
A development organisation which concentrates only on changing
the physical environment without endeavouring to adapt the way of
life of the people to the new conditions does not bring lasting benefits
to the country. Before the Development Office was established, the
British Government built in 1953 the first school in Sharjah, and in
due course initiated further educational projects through the Poli­
tical Agency.
Technical education was given high priority when funds became
available, and in 1958 the British Government started building the
first Trade School in the Trucial States in Sharjah. The school began
with one class of 18 boys, many of whom left after the first year
because the skills which they had already acquired made them
valuable staff for firms which operated in the Trucial States. Of those
who remained at school, four were sent in 1960 to Sudan for further
education and training as teachers and instructors for future
employment in the Trade School. By 1964 the school had been
expanded several times and accommodated 48 students, taught by 6
instructors; the courses included Arabic and English language,
mathematics and engineering drawing. Technical education was
greatly encouraged by the Ruler of Dubai, who paid for a new Trade
School in Dairah, and by the principal of the Sharjah school, who
planned and supervised this new project.,34In 1965 the Development
Office took over from the British Government the financing of the
Sharjah School and half a share of the Dubai school until 1967, when

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