Expansion Schemes And Development in the Palestinian Arab Education in Palestine before 1948 (Nakba), British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 647. Chapter XVI: Social Services : Section 2: Description of Education Systems :

CHAPTER XVI.

Expansion schemes and development in Arab education.

59. When the civil administration was established in July, 1920, there were 171 Arab public (Government) schools in Palestine with 408 teachers and 10662 pupils. In two• years the number was raised to 311 schools with 639 teachers and 19639 pupils by the opening of new village schools. Thereafter there was no planned expansion at Government expense until the school year 1933/34. Immediately before the expansion which then took place there were 299 Arab public schools with 827 teachers and 26,691 pupils. "Expansion" is now defined as an increase in the number of admissions to the lowest class together with the consequent successive increases in all higher classes within the potential limits of universal education (five standards). Consequential increases in higher standards are termed "development".

There are now (January 1946) 504 Arab public schools with about 80,000 pupils.

Expansion and development in town and country are treated separately below.

(a) URBAN EXPANSION.

60. A committee was appointed in October, 1932, to enquire into the need for additional accommodation for Government elementary schools in the principal towns, and to submit recommendations as to the steps to be taken for the purpose of providing such accommodation. Consequent on the report of the committee, Government decided to increase, as from September, 1933, the number of new admissions to the lowest elementary class in Government (Arab) town schools from 1,700 pupils (the number admitted in 1932) to 3,200 pupils, and to maintain this rate of admission to the lowest class for a period of five years, which is the time taken by a normal pupil to pass through the five standards of the lower elementary cycle. In other words, it was approved in principle that new teaching posts and additional accommodation would be provided annually for five years to enable those first admitted to the lowest class in 1933 to proceed to higher classes up to the end of the lower elementary cycle, and at the same time to maintain the strength of the lowest class at the same level as in 1933, the first year of expansion. The scheme remained in operation for three years. It was then interrupted, resumed for a year and never completed by Government financial provision.

Some provision however has been made by Government for the contingent development of higher classes and local authorities have provided additional school places.

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