Page 258 - Records of Bahrain (5) (ii)_Neat

578 Records of Bahrain

Indian craftsmen *.avo some admirable qualities, but few of them
speak Arabic. Many speak good English, however, and thoso who
have rocoivod education in Indian technical achoolo would certainly
be well acquainted with English as a medium of instruction.

Of the Arubic-speaking countries, Egypt and EGYPT, SYRIA
Syria are tho most advanced in technical education,AND PALESTINE*
Palestine has also progressed rapidly in this
field as u result of European influences during tho lasl'twonty
years, Iraq io only beginning, to develop teclinical education and
is still at a stago whon good native instructors Cannot be spared.
Influences coming from these more \vcotomi30d Arab countries aro
not altogether good in places liko Buhrain where many of the
better foature3 of Arab life and culture have been happily pro*
served from corruption* It is therefore the more important to
ensure that teachers ooming from these countries aro men of good
character in addition to being well qualified from the point of
view of training and experience* If teaching appointments for
Bahrain were made solely on the advice of native authorities in
Egypt, Syria, or Palestine, it io practically certain that the
selection of candidates would be based on the number of their
educational certificates, regardless of personal qualities. There
would also bo no safeguard against the recruitment of mere
ivonturers in search of comfortable posts abroad, If these coun­
tries arc to be a source of supply of teclinical teachers I would
strongly advise your Ilighneos to seek the help of resident British
officials and education authorities in selecting the candidates.
At the time of writing this Report I am not able to add detailed
suggestions as to how this could best be done, and I would not
make further enquiries into the matter on your Highness’s behalf
until I know what general principle will be adopted in making the
staff appointments.

EXTENSION OF THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS

The first step in the re-organisation of URGENT NEED
technical education in Bahrain should be on POR EXTENSION.
immediate and considerable extension of the
school building accommodation. By preparing first a full range
modern buildings your Highness1 o Government will ensure the effect­
iveness of the work of the new Principal and staff immediately on
their arrival. It would be a mistake to wait for new students to
arrive before taking steps to extend the buildings, for this would
only lead to confusion. Idoreover, students of the desired typo
would probably not respond to the appeal of the new scheme unless
they realised that the Government had seriously taken in hand the
provision of proper accommodation and equipment for the training
courses. The method of adding to existing buildings piecemeal
as accommodation becomes overcrowded is much to be deprecated and
is unlikely to inspire public confidence in the project. Of course,
in all building schemes of this sort allowance must be made for
further extension from time to time, but there is a minimum oizo
of school inwhich a really effective 3tart can be mado. I take
this minimum to be a school for 100 pupils, S3 already suggested
in previous sections of this Report. This school should comprise
workshops, classrooms, offices, and a boarding house.
7/ith such a scheme in mind it would be dosirable PLANS.
from many points of view to commence on entirely new
rang? of buildings. As, however, it is desired to incorporate the
c.\iuting ccnooi ounaing in the scheme, I have acted accordingly in
preparing the accompanying plans.

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