Page 147 - Bahrain Gov annual reports(V)_Neat

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from India, Syria and the Lebanon to work for them. Among the young men and boys of
Bahrain there is still a definite feeling that to learn a trade is derogatory and so long as this
feeling exists it will be difficult to get the right type of boys to take up technical training. This
point of view exists most strongly among the Arabs. The majority of the boys who do enter
the school are cither those of Persian origin, who have more inclination and ability for learning
technical trades, or boys from the villages. The same feeling exists over agricultural work,
no Arab, in Bahrain, ever works on the land, the agriculturalists are the Bahama or, in ever
increasing numbers, Hassawis from Saudi Arabia.
Certain changes in the School programme were made from the beginning of 1954. In his
first year every student now works for three months in the carpentry section, the blacksmith
section and the fitting section. After finishing his first school year, of nine months, the student
begins to specialise in one of the following branches, Lathe Machine and Bench Work, Car­
pentry, Forging and Welding, Casting and Modelling, Motor Engineering or, at the beginning
of next term, Electricity. The School course is for four years.

In January 1954 it was decided that the School should be enlarged in order to start an
electric section, this decision was taken in view of the great expansion of the Government
electric undertaking and the need for more wiremcn and trained men in the Electrical Depart­
ment and in the service of the many local contractors. It was also decided that a new workshop
should be built and that most of the old equipment and machinery, which was bought in India
during the war, should be replaced by modern equipment. At the end of the year the new
shed, 150 ft. x 50 ft. was nearing completion and most of the machinery had arrived, it included
the following items :
2 “Harrison” 11-in. Swing Lathes.
1 “New Kerry” 5$ centres 11-in. Swing S.S. and Sc. Lathe.
2 “Cardiff” S.S. and S.C. Lathes.
1 “Swift” V3, 18*-in. Swing Lathe.
1 “Woodhouse and Mitchell” 7-in. Centre Lathe.
1 “Invicta” 6 M.R. High Speed Shaping Machine.
1 “Victoria” U.2.R. Universal Milling Machine.
2 “Union” Model G.14 double ended grinding machine.
1 “Progress” 4 E High Speed Pillar Drilling Machine.
1 “Kerry” Drillmaster 1-in. capacity Bench Drilling Machine.
2 Inspection and Marking-out Tables.
1 Oil-fired Furnace, 100 lbs. capacity.
2 Steel Plate Double Blacksmith’s Hearths.
A complete selection of tools in tool boxes so that in future every student will have, and be
responsible, for his own set of tools.

This equipment was ordered after consultation with the State Engineer, the firm of D. and C.
and William Press Ltd., offered to present to the School the equipment for the new Electric
Section which is to be opened in the next school year.
In June 1954, at the end of the School year, 18 students sat for their final examination
which 15 of them passed. The best and most suitable of these graduates was sent to England
for a course lasting probably for two years, in electric wiring, etc., at Messrs. Siemens factory
at Woolwich. Reports on his progress arc satisfactory. Of the other students who passed out
seven were taken on by the Bahrain Petroleum Company, two joined the Public Works Depart­
ment,’ two remained in the School as teachers, one joined the Education Department, one went
to Arabia and one worked with his father,
A teacher for the Electric Section was recruited, somewhat prematurely, from the Lebanon,
as the new section had not been started, he was lent to the State Engineer’s Department. One
of the new graduates was appointed Storekeeper in the School and another as an instructor
in electric welding.

It is hoped that in the coming year, with the opening of the new electric section and with the
new equipment and machinery, there may be an impetus towards joining the Technical School.