Page 433 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (III)_Neat

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The three town schools have Arabic speaking societies which meet monthly and are run entirely
by the girls themselves. They elect their own chairman, secretary and committee and at their
monthly meetings act little plays, recite and discuss various subjects.
The usual needlework show was held in the spring and the standard of work was high. It has
been a great success running the needlework under a separate Headmistress with the needlework
teachers directly responsible to her, this has relieved the Headmistresses of the schools of much work
and worry. There is a great deal to be done in the organizing and designing of the needlework, though
many of the needlework teachers arc excellent needlewomen they have never been out of Bahrain and
therefore have not many ideas.
The number of students in the schools was a few less than last year. The great difficulty is that
more and more small children wish to enrol each year. The numbers could easily be doubled in the
Kindergarten and Infant classes but without starting several new classes in each school this is im­
possible, new classes would of course mean a large increase in the staff and would necessitate extra
accommodation.
Dr. Doeg did her annual medical examination and reported that the health of the children in
all the schools showed a marked improvement. During most of the year a nurse attended the schools
twice weekly to give treatment. It is a noticeable how the cleanliness of the children improves after
they have attended school for a month or two. They are given regular lessons in hygiene.
The number of girls at the various schools at the end of the year was as follows :—
Aisha Om al Momineen (Manama) 355
Khadijat al Kobra (Muharraq) 412
Fatimat al Zahra (Manama) .. 225
Hedd School............................. 172
Rafaa School............................. 120
1284
Staff:
Inspectress 1
Syrian teachers .. 8
Local teachers .. 54
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TECHNICAL SCHOOL
(From the report of Mr. Said Tabbara, Headmaster, Technical School).
During 1366 there were 46 boys in the school, 16 worked in the carpentry section and 30 on the
mechanical side. The school with its present staff and equipment could deal with double this number
of students. The full school course lasts for four years but very few boys stay at school for the full
period. There is at present an acute shortage of carpenters and mechanics in Bahrain and in Saudi
Arabia and high pay is being earned by young men who have little practical experience or education.
Students at the school are paid allowances at Rs. 7-8-0 for beginners and Rs. 25 for a third year student,
but as they can earn very much more in the bazaar, with very little knowledge, they are not content
to stay at school. Numbers of boys from the Technical school are now working as carpenters and
mechanics in Manama, Muharraq and in Saudi Arabia.
A third year class was opened during the year in.which boys were given more practical work.
The class which was engaged on motor repairing carried out their practical work in the Government
Garage instead of in the school. At the Garage they had the opportunity of seeing and working on a
more varied range of subjects than in the school.
The entries into the Technical school are from the Primary schools. Primary school boys have
in most cases a limited knowledge of English. All boys in the school regularly attend classes in English -
and Mathematics, for this reason a teacher of English is carried on the staff of the Technical school.
Attendance was good during the year and the general health of the boys was satisfactory. The
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students paid visits to the Bahrain Petroleum Company’s works, to the Power House and to the
Machine shop, under supervision of teachers. =

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