Coll 54/2 'Middle East (Official) Committee: Working Party' [‎59r] (117/642)

- ^
healthy countryt There is however a considerable amount of
malaria, particularly in the Beqaa Valley#
A sufficient number of doctors is turned out by the
ivmerican and French universities at Beirut# In fact there is
an export of doctors to other Middle East countries.
The doctor’s fees are nevertheless extremely high and this
inevitably causes a great hardship#
A scheme of Social Insurance is at present being worked out
by the Government and improved States medical services, e#g#
hospitals in provincial capitals are gradually being provided
by the Ministry of Public Health.
The hospitals of the American and French univerities and
also the Lebanon hospital for Mental Diseases (an international
institution having its main committee in London) attracts
patients from many parts of the Middle East.
23• Edu cation and Technic sal Training
There is probably a higher rate of literacy in Lebanon
than in any other Middle East country# The focus of higher
education is to be found in the American and French universities
which in addition to providing general education also train
doctors and engineers# A considerable number of Lebanese,
particularly the wealthier classes are educated abroad#
There is a state technical school which trains some 250
pupils# The standard is reasonably good and instruction is
given in foundry work, precision engine©rim textiles and motor
engineering# There are also smaller technical schools in
Tripoli, Saida and Zahle#
British education (apart from the British Council) is
however represented only by a few small missionary schools#
Though the training they provide is good, the schools are far
from meeting the increasing demands for education on British
lines# The need for a British secondary school and improved
technical training (particularly in connexion with the oil
industry) has long been felt and the problem is now receiving
attention from the British Council.
It is noteworthy that the u diaspora” of Palestinian Arabs
has served to increase the desire for British education and
British methods#
24# Labour
Workers’ interests are protected by comprehensive labour
law introduced in 1946# It covered such questions as hours
of work, minimum wages, leaving indemnities, family allowances,
workmen’s compensation, employment of women and juveniles,
trade unions, etc# Present labour difficulties arise from the
increase in the number of industrial workers, the very high
cost of living, and the unemployment and under employment
v/hich followed tlie withdrawal of the allied forces after the
war# The Government is aware of the urgency of the problem# A
Social Security Plan has been prepared by a British expert#
The scheme is based on tripartite contributions (by the workers,
employers and the State), and is planned to be executed in three
stages#
/Stage 1
• • •