Sessional_Paper_1934 — Page 89

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(7) THE CARPENTRY SCHOOLS.

BAGAN SERAL.

This school was founded to meet a definite limited need, and seems to have been highly successful in fulfilling its object.

This crop

The district is entirely agricultural, rice being the staple product. being very definitely seasonal, those employed in its cultivation have long periods of idleness between seasons. To enable the more industrious portion of the population to turn this free time to account, it was decided to open a Trade School which would enable its students either to turn out good class work, mainly furniture, for the local markets, or to build the wooden houses mainly used by the Malay.

The annual entry is limited to thirty, no fees being charged. On the other hand, no maintenance allowance is granted, and, owing to the scattered nature of the population it has not been found possible to keep the school quite up to full strength.

The minimum educational standard of entrants is Standard V of the Malay Schools, and the duration of the Course is three years.

In spite of the difficult nature of the Malayan timbers, the standard of work done in joinery is of a very high order.

Unfortunately, just previous to the date of the present visit, a sale had been held of the furniture made by the school. Good prices were realised for the stock sold, and judging from the quality of such articles as remained, tables, side-boards, gramo- phone and wireless cabinets, etc., the articles sold must have been good value. Prices up to S$40 were realised. Several remaining articles at $20 seemed well worth the price asked. It is probable that this sale will become an annual event.

On completion of the course all students receive, gratis, a nucleus tool kit to the value of approximate £2 sterling. This is quite sufficient to enable them to under- take any normal work.

It is interesting to note that a number of passed students have combined to form a Co-operative Society for the production of furniture. They cannot enter the field of open competition till they attain the age of 21, but at present they are making tables and desks for the Education Department at contract rates, and doing the job very well.

Throughout the course students are required to produce working drawings of the articles which they propose to make, prepare bills of quantities, and render estimates of the cost of each such article. The work is very well carried out.

Note: All furniture made is of European pattern, well jointed and polished, and

quite up to the quality seen in most Chinese shops in Hong Kong.

The three instructors who have all been engaged locally are to be congratulated on the success of their efforts:

Instruction in Carpentry is gradually being made general at Schools throughout the State. Two instructors are appointed to each school, one appointment being made each year. Appointments are for two years, the instructors being passed students from Bagan Serai, who receive a small pay of S$27 per month. This is sufficient to provide a fair number of these students with the necessary capital to set up small workshops of their own.

One student has obtained a permanent position at Johore Bahru Trade School.