Page 240 - Records of Bahrain (5) (ii)_Neat

560 Records of Bahrain

THE PRESENT TECHNICAL SCHOOL

In the absence of a proper Principal the Technical School
at Manama has to some extent come under tho supervision of the
government Engineer who, in tho limited time at hio disposal,
has provided some useful equipment for the workshops and super­
vised tho practical instruction of the pupils. Due largely to
his influence the boys arc frequently engaged on actual industrial
work und have thus been obtaining the kind of experience they
need in the practice of their vuriouo trades. It is to the
credit of everyone concerned that the Technical School has not
wasted much of the time of its pupils on tasks which have li ttle
instructional value and which result in the production of quite
useless articles# This may account in some measure for the
hard work and enthusiasm displayed by the majority of tho boys
in the school. They appeal' to realise the usefulness of their
work, which they carry out with zest in spite of the numerous
difficulties in the way of comfort and inadequacy of equipment.
The course of training occupies two years, new pupils being admitted
at any time of the yoar. A small number of boys have already
completed their courses and appear to be giving satisfaction to
their employers.
The school is staffed with three instructors STAFF AND
of Syrian nationality, one being responsible for 'THE TEACHING
the metalwork and mechanical side and the other OF HANDWORK.
two for the woodworking trades. They appear to
possess good knowledge of trade practice, but they do not have
that method and orderliness which characterises the best crafts­
men and which is such a valuable element in workshop instruction.
Like so many skilled workmen in the east, they ignore the menial
tasks connected with the workshops und do not encourage their
pupils in habits of cleanliness and order. The absence of serv­
ants or labourers should not be rnado an excuse for dirt and un­
tidiness, especially in places for training young people. The
standard of craftsmanship in the school is quite good, considering
that the boys do not have well graded exercises. Tills shows at
least that tho instructors work conscientiously and that the Arab
boys in Bahrain, as elsewhere, have a capacity for skilled work.
The mechanical engineering instructor includes in his depart­
ment tho whole of the metalworking crafts — forging, fitting,
turning, etc. At the present time he has only a small number of
boys in his charge, but if the school is enlarged he should con­
fine his activities to one branch only, whichever he is best
qualified to take. With a larger number of pupils in the school
it should be possible to employ a works instructor for each speci­
alised trade. In the case of the two woodwork instructors also
it would be better if their work were divided so that one became
responsible for the furniture trade (cabinet making) and one for
building work (carpentry and joinery). I have elsewhere mentioned
the desirability of appointing a third and senior woodwork instruc­
tor specially qualified to teach beginners and to give proper
lessons in woodwork technology and drawing.
Sonic time is devoted in tho school to mechanical DRAWING.
drawing* The rosults are poor, mainly because there is
not a properly graded course of exercises. The pupils arc expec­
ted to make sketches and scale drawings of complicated machine
parts before, thoy have any idea of tho fundamental principles of
geometry
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