§ MR. J. M. ROBERTSON (Northumberland, Tyneside)To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, by the Egyptian Government's decree of the 22nd June, 1893, it was enacted that the Arabic language should be the medium for teaching all subjects in the Egyptian schools; whether the decree has been abrogated; and whether the scarcity of teachers, now alleged as a reason for the lack of instruction in Arabic, has been the result of the policy pursued by the British control in Egypt in disregard of the decree.
§ (Answered by Sir Edward Grey.) The decree in question provides that the programmes of the Egyptian Government schools shall include instruction in Arabic in as large a measure as possible, in order to ensure a thorough knowledge of that language, and that no certificate of primary or secondary studies, nor any definitive certificate shall be granted by the Ministry of Public Instruction to a candidate, whatever his knowledge of other matters, unless he can show that he possesses knowledge of the Arabic language as laid down in the official programmes of the Government. I have no information that this decree has been abrogated. As regards the last part of the hon. Member's Question, I beg to refer him to the Answer given to the Question on this subject asked by him on the 21st instant.†