Page 211 - Records of Bahrain (5) (ii)_Neat

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The progress of state education, 1939-1941 531

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We now como to tbo vory important question of School Books. It will
be reiucm'Hsrotl that tho absonoo of suflicioot text-books was mentioned
earlier in Uin ltcport us being ono of tho sevon cnuoa of iucflicicaoy in tho
schools.
1 do not know whethor it is realised by tho Education Department
that owing to tho rule which requires that books Bhall be paid for by tho
pupils tljom^clvcs, tho vast majority of tbo boys uso no books at all, from
the beginning of the year to its end, and that oven those paronts who can
afford to provide their children with books nogloot to do so. Tho hoad-
mastcr of 1 li’dd School told mo that tho few boys whoso parents buy thorn
books bring to school with them ono Arabic reading-book, ono English
reading-book, and nothing clso. In his own words: “All other subjocts
arc taught without the uso of books at all. The teachers dictate."

This is a truly lamontablo state of affairs. How can wo 6oriouely call
these institutions government schools, where tbero aro not evon books for
the pupils? Ono hardly dares to commit oneself to paper on tho subject
of an Inspector who could allow the schools for which ho was responsible
to be so conducted. I believo I did hear something about books occasionally
being given out freo to very poor boys, but if this has happened at all wo
may io quite sure that it bus been only at Manainah and Muharraq, the
two show schools. But evon if nil tho poor boys in nil tho schools wore
given book:* free of charge, and if all tho richer parents wero perfect poople,
a system under which some boys aro ablo to buy their own books, while
others are forced to accopt them as charitable gifts, is a most undcsirablo
one, for any school, and 1 suggest that your Highness should givo instruc­
tions lor the present chaotic state of affairs to be brought to an end ns soon
as possible.
1 want to suggest that in futuro all tho books needed in all First
Stage and Second Stage 6choola should be bought by tho Education
Department, and should become tbo proporty of the schools, who would bo
responsible for thorn, and who would lend thorn out, free of charge, for the
use of tbo buys during school hours alono. This moans that tho boys would
noit be allowed to tuko thorn away from tho school promises. Boys can,
w tb a litllo training, be persuaded to take groat caro of printed books, and
if my suggestion is adopted tho same books will 6erve tho same classes year
•dter year. Generation aftor gonoration of boys will uso them, and it will
bo found that very littlo loss through dumugo is suffored by tho Education
Department.

I suggest to your Highuoss that all school books needed by boys of the
rinnl Stage shall bo paid for, either by tho paronts, or, in tho caso of poor
toys, out of their scholarship grants, by tho Government.