EGYPT’S SCHOOLS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27357, 5 April 1950, Page 10

EGYPT’S SCHOOLS

Blind Ministers Plans ERAZING ILLITERACY Reuter Correspondent in Cairo A blind man who, born in a fellah's (peasant’s) hut has risen to be the most powerful figure and dominant influence in modern Egyptian literature, is today leading a crusade to stamp out illiteracy and raise the general standard of education in Egypt. He is Doctor Taha Hussein Bey. Egyptian’s new Minister of Education. Taha Hussein, a graduate of A 1 Azhar and the Sorbonne (Paris University), author, poet and philosopher, hopes to extend the benefits of education throughout the^Nile.Valley, the “cradle of civilisation.” His plan is to establish primary schools in all villages, secondary schools in all towns ana cities, agricultural, commerce, and arts and crafts schools in the chief provincial centres and two new State universities. A blend of Eastern and Western culture himself. Dr Hussein Bey is anxious to expand cultural ties with both the East and West. Egypt has 4iade uig strides in the field of education since achieving political independence. Statistics show that, while in 1920 f here were only nine secondary schools with 200 teachers and 3000 students on a budget of £1,000,000, the figures are now two State universities, 97 schools, 3000 teachers, and 80,000 students with a budget increased to £20,000,000. The 85 per cent, of the 20,000,000 Egyptian population, however, are still illiterate.

The blind minister faces 1,000,000 boys and girls clamouring for entrance into schools which do not exist, and an acute shortage of teachers, but the man who has overcome his own grave handicap will not shrink from the challenge of his new task. Dr Taha Hussein Bey, a slender man of medium height now in his fifties, is considered one of the most progressive educationists in Egypt. He was first among Egyptians to apply scientific methods of analysis to Arabic literature. His daring innovation in the teaching and interpretation of Arabic classics involved him in a vigorous fight with the rector of A 1 Azhar, the largest Moslem University in the world. An early champion of co-education, Taha Hussein, is not only a novelist, historian and essayist of great power and sensitivity, but also a forceful political writer. He was the only one who dared to criticise some phases of the political career of Saad 2,aghlul, founder of the Wafdist Party, who is known as the “ Father of the Nation.”

The life story of Taha Hussein is in many respects that of modern Egypt. Horn of a poor family of fellaheen, blindness cut him off in early childhood from his surroundings and his companions. Gradually and with difficulty he became aware of the world around him. He insisted that he should be sent to the Kuttab, or village school, and like any other boy he took his share of work and play, success and humiliation. He learned , the Koran (the Moslem holy book) by heart, and at the age of 13 was sent up to Cairo in the charge of an elder brother to study at A 1 Azhar University. From tnere he was sent at Government expense to the Sorbonne in Paris, where he readily absorbed Latin culture and met the French girl whom he married in August, 1917. There followed, as he said in the dedicatipn of one of his boons, “ light after darkness, companionsmp after lonenness, and happiness after misery.”

Dr Taha Hussein returned to Cairo, where he became Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Fuad Awal University, and later Director-general of Culture and Acting Under-secretary of State for Education. He was largely responsible for the creation of the new Faruk Awal University at Alexandria, of which he became the first rector. He was awarded the title of Bey for his literary works, but bis progressive ideas and political leanings towards the Wafd or People’s Party barred him from higher posts, and he was forced to resign, from the Government service in 1944.'