British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 661. Chapter XVI: Social Services : Section 2: Description of Education Systems : Jewish Schools: Other Non-Governmental Schools

CHAPTER XVI.

89. An important group among the private Jewish schools are the Talmud Toras. These are schools in which instruction is given mainly in religious subjects, together with a certain amount of general education. The language of instruction in many of these schools is Yiddish or Arabic; but there is a growing tendency to adopt Hebrew and to give some time to general subjects. Since 1942 Government grants have been extended to some of the more important Talmud Taras, including notably those of the Agudat Israel; and they have thus been enable to introduce more modern methods.

The number of Talmud Toras in 1944 was 73 with 8,234 pupils.

Of these 28 Talmud. Toras with 4,826 pupils were in receipt of Government grants in 1944/45 totalling £P.8,600.

Other non-government schools.

(a) MOSLEM.

90. The number of specifically Moslem schools is relatively small. The Supreme Moslem Council controls a few schools (see paragraph 51) and an orphanage. With the exception of the Rawdat al Ma'arif in Jerusalem and the Najah School in Nablus, all Moslem schools are of elementary type. The language of instruction throughout is Arabic, except in the higher classes of the two secondary schools, where English is also used. A considerable number of "kuttabs* exist in which the Quran , reading and writing are taught. In the Moslem Orphanage in Jerusalem trades and handicrafts are taught.

(b) CHRISTIAN.

91. Various foreign organisations and religious bodies maintain their interest in education, notably the Church Missionary Society, the Jerusalem and the East Mission, the Church Missions to the Jews, the American Friends' Mission, the Scots Mission and various Roman Catholic bodies. The Foreign Consuls-General control their respective national missionary schools in peace time.

92. Initiative in establishing and maintaining schools continues to be shown by various local Christian communities. The Latin, Orthodox, Syrian and Armenian Patriarchs, the Custode di Terra

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* Elementary Moslem schools in which religious instruction predominates.

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