File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎168r] (333/450)

according to their efficiency in each separate subject of instruction. This system is
more troublesome and expensive to work, and requires a larger staff, but has a much
more stimulating effect upon the intelligence of the pupil. Arabic is the main medium
of instruction, but English is taught even in the lowest classes ; if this were not done
'Tere would be no inducement to the parents to send their children to the Government
schools rather than to the Mullahs’ classes, where instruction in Arabic can be
obtained. A fee of 1 rupee a head is charged per month. Government inspection will
not postulate any system of written examinations or of stereotyped standards, but will
consist of a careful personal inspection and oral examinations. The teachers are given
the comparatively high salary of 75 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. a month; this is, however, considerably
lower than that which was paid by the Turks to extremely inefficient persons;
teachers knowing Arabic and English are hard to find; the cost of living and general
standards are higher in Mesopotamia than in India, and it is essential to attract- to the
primary schools teachers of ability and of good social status.
The second foreign school which existed in Easra before the occupation was the
Carmelite Fathers’ Elementary School for Oriental Catholics.
It is most desirable to have Catholics educated separately from Moslems, and this
is in accordance with the wishes of both sects. From Oriental Catholics the clerks
hitherto employed by the Turks and in commercial firms have mainly been drawn, and
however much we may encourage Moslem Arabs to enter our service it is to be feared
that clerical duties in the offices will never be very popular with them, although they
may be eager to take executive service when they realise how much larger are the
powers which we grant to, Asiatic executive magistrates and subordinates than any
which were granted by the Turks. We cannot afford to neglect the education of
Oriental Christians since it is probable that clerical posts will mainly be filled by
them. The principal teaching agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. is that of the Carmelite Fathers, one of whom
is an Englishman. The number of their pupils is about fifty, the principal language
taught has been French, the education given is not so efficient or so well thought out
as that of the American school, but it has turned out clerks sufficiently good for the
work which has been asked of them.
We have given a grant-in-aid of 1,500 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. a year to the Carnielite School, the
Fathers in return agreeing to Government inspection and making English the principal
language taught. All the Latin Catholics in‘Ashar have joined together for educa
tional purposes, and a girls’ school has been opened there under the auspices of the
Carmelite Nuns.
When the primary schools begin turping out a large number of boys with some
knowledge of English and a good knowledge of Arabic, the question of middle and
higher education must be decided, and we shall have to consider whether the reserve
of educated youths thus created is not to be diverted mainly into the channels of
commercial and technical education, so as to axoid tne evil of turning out a multitude
of scholars endowed with imperfect literary education and fitted only for the lower
grades of Government service and for the profession of pleader. A commercial school
and a practical agricultural school might be found useful.
APPENDIX (C).
The Italian Press and Asia Minor.
( 1 .)
The “Stampa” (18th August) prints a long article from its correspondent in
Petrograd Virginio Gayda, urging that the Government should lose no time m coming
to an understanding with the Allies on the question of Italy’s interests m the Balkans
and Asia Minor. . , , , J ^ -n ■
He takes as his starting point (l) Mr. Asquiths statement to the Kussian repre
sentatives when they visited London that between England ana Russia a perfect accord
had been reached regarding Persia and the East generally, and ( 2 )^ “ the fact that at
present (the article is dated August) there is said to be a resumption of exchange of
views between the Allied Cabinets.” -p t? +
On both occasions Italy seems to have been absent, and it looks as if the itastern