'Government of Bahrain Annual Report for Year 1359 (February 1940 - February 1941)' [‎185v] (42/74)

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FEMALE EDUCATION
The work of the Governnunt girls' schools proceeded steadily throughout the year. N'o new
schools were opened but the question of starting a school in Rafaa was considered. In Manamah
there was a large increase in the number of pupils, most of the new girls being under ten years
old. At the end of the year the number of girls in the Manamah school was 243; about one quarter
are foreign and the remainder are Bahrain subjects. The girls in the Manamah school are rep
resentative of all classes, from the richest to the poorest. The stall" consists of one Syrian head
mistress and nine local teachers. The health of the children has definitely improved owing to the
regular daily attendance at the school of one of the Government nurses.
At Muharraq the progress has been satisfactory, though fewer new pupils entered the school
at the beginning of the year. The standard of education at Muharraq is higher than in Manamah
which is due in a large measure to the keenness of the headmistress and the help which she gives
to the teachers. The number of pupils at the end of the year was 161, of whom only 17 wore
foreigners. Many of tin- daughters of the Ruling Family attend the Muharraq girls' school. 1 he
staff consists of one Syrian headmistress, one Syrian assistant mistress, and six local teachers.
The Muharraq Government Nurse attends the school twice weekly.
The subjects taught in the two schools are, in general, the same but in Muharraq there arc
classes in cooking and dressmaking. Sewing and embroidery are very popular both with the
girls and the parents and the older girls now produce first-rate work. This is shown in an exhibi
tion in the schools at the end of each term.
In Hidd school there was a slight decrease in the number of pupils owing to epidemics ol
measles and whooping -cough, and also because some of the parents, who in Hidd arc ultra con
servative, disapproved of the medical visits which were carried out by the Government lady doc.or.
One of the Muharraq nurses now visits the school weekly. 1 here wen (14 pupils .it the
year and a staff consisting of three local teachers.
MINORS' DEPARTMENT
The Minors' Department, which consists of a committee under the president v o . iai 1
Sulman bin Hamad Alkhalifah with a superintendent and clerical staff, continued and extende
it. work during the vear in spite of a certain amount of opposition from the Sunm (Jadis and a
few interested persons. At the end of the year it published a report of its work in the local news
paper. It deal! with funds amounting to Rs. 95.000 and undertook the administration ot 17 new
estate. Debts due to estates were recovered without recourse to courts and 119 orp inns were
maintained from the proceeds of their property under the department's administration. Loan, were
made at 10 per cent interest secured by property or gold ornaments.
Several persons who were not minors approached the department and asked that the pr.v
perties which thev inherited should he administered on their behall by the department.
\t the end of the vear the Sunni Shara Court became involved in a disagreement with the
Bahrain Court relating to the administration of estate, which affected the Minors Department.
The Qadis produced a ruling on the subject which wa. issued by the Bahrain Government about
,, year, ago before the Minors' Department was established, and contended that conditions
to-day were the same as they were then and that the Shara only was responsible lor minors.
This point of view was not accepted by the Government. . , , ,i„
The Minors' Department is doing much valuable work and it it had existed longer the
scandalous misappropriation of the properties of minors and widows, which is well known to
have taken place in the past, would not have been possible. The activities ol this department
could well be extended to protect the rights of all minors, whether they apply lor adniin.stration
<„ not but this is not practicable until the department is more thoroughly established.
The following is a summary of lln- revenue and expenditure ot the department lor the V '
1359 :
Summary of Revenue and Expenditure of the Minors^ Department
REVENUE. bXPtJNUl I UKK.
From year 1358
Income from estates
Debts recovered
Rents collected
Repayment of loans
Interest on loans
Total
Rs.
S 1 >795 I 3 3
15.348 14 10
8,264 4 4
9,103 7 11
9,5° 1 5 3
()04 15 o
94,918 12 7
Rs.
Maintenance of minors
8,343
2
Properties bought
2,549
1
6
Repairs to properties
8 ,014
5
t
Various payments
8 ,2 i H
9
7
Loans advanced
• 32 ,477
7
0
Balance in hand
• 35.3 l6
3
3
Total ..
. 94,918
12
7