Evening star., 1933-10-03
MODERN EDUCATION
STRIKES .EL-EzHARI
MosIem School, 900 Years
Old, Stops Teaching That
World Is Flat.

Another frontier has crumbled before
modern science. El-Azhar University,
In Cairo Egypt, has admitted courses
in modern science into curriculum
that for more than 900 years has taught
its scholars that the world is fiat. Ell
Azhar has also hired a librarian to
completely modernize its archaic IL
brary.
"El-Azhar, founded in 988 by the
Caliph Ell Aziz, is the chief seat OF
learning and center of political Thought
Of the Moslem world" says bulletin
from the National Geographic Society
Its teachings profoundly affect the
thinking of the thousands who study
there and Of the millions OF Moslems
whose leaders they will be.
Few universities have as unusual or
rs picturesque a setting as has El-Aznar.
In its earlier years the beautiful build
ing was a mosque, but Is years after
It's completion it was turned over 10
Moslem scholars. For nine centuries its
voice has been a powerful one IN the
Mohammedan world.
Building Often Changed.
1.-THE present nearly rectangular
structure. east of modern Cairo, and In
the heart of the native city. has been
so often restored that little of it can
be said to date from the tenth century
except the central court. A great oeai
Of the original mosque was wrecked
during the earthquake of 1903, but since
that time the successive rulers OF Egypt
have delighted to add sanctuaries. col
unns. arcades, cupolaS and fantaStlc
minarets.
From every part Of the Moslem
world students come each year to STUDY
at this unique institution OF learning.
Nigeria, the Gold Coast, Morocco, IN
dia. Turkistan, Persia, Zanzibar. ARABIA
and Borneo send their scholars LOT
course of study that may extend over
IS wears. although successful students
receive the Shadadet ell Alimiya, or d.
ploma of learning at the end OF the
twelfth year. For three years more they
NAV teach at El-Azhar, or at instltu-
tions OF similar standing; and by tax
ing q course in the specialization sec
ton may receive a final degree, or OIL
ploma of specialization
''The old Arabic curriculum may seem
4 bit odd to students in western uni
yersities. One is reminded Of Lewis
Carroll's Alice in Wonderland by Sucn
courses as grammatical infection. the
ology, exegesiS. syntaX. prosody. VerSln-
cation. algebra and traditions. History;
geography and arithmetic are optional
studies, for the emphasis is always upon
religious and civil teaching OF Islam, as
we'll as the classical Arabic OF the
Koran.
But stranger even than the courses
of study are the teaching methods OF
this venerable university. El-Azhar
boasts Of no class rooms, blackboaroS'
maps, desks. or other educational equip
ment. There are no chairs. endowed or
otherwise; no athletic fields or sports
no undergraduate debating teams OF
Rlee clubs. Little knots Of students SIT
cross legged on carpets and straw mats
upon the stone floor, forming clrcle
around their teacher. Some OF these
groups listen attentively or take notes
while the teacher speaks; others sway
to and fro as they repeat certain
phrases and dicta in low sing-song
voice. To visitors who obtain passes
to see classes in session (no photo
Rraphy Is permitted. it is an unfor-
Rettable spectacle. Every detail recalls
the middle ages-when scholarship was
its own goal, unfettered by degrees ana
practical applications.
The sanctuary, or principal lecture
hall, spreads over an area about nan
the size of an American foot ball field.
Over much of it Is a low ceiling, sup
ported by l40 marble columns. Tne
lighting ranges from dense shadow IN
the nine aisles to the brilliant sunllght
of . mosque court. Each Moslem ma
ton is entitled to have its own apart
ments and its own teachers at the uni
versity. But quarters are likely to pe
little more than dimly-lit cells, ana
the class rooms any places that the
teacher can find unoccupied in the Pill
Jared lecture hall and open court. The
central library of ElAzhar contains 81
600 volumes, of which $4,000 are manu-
scripts of inestimable value to students
Of Mohammedanism.
All Based on Charity.
Most of the 5000 students OF Ell
Azhar in recent years have been native
Egyptians; but rubbing shoulders with
them are black, brown and yellow MOS
lens, for the Mohammedan scholar for
gets nationality and race in a unity
Of creed. Instruction is free, and IN
addition there are doles for bread and
other necessities, all contributed oy
pious and wealthy Moslems.
Many of the instructors are unpaid;
being mostly learned men of Cairo and
other Moslem cities, who exc out
living by private tuition and by copy
ing manuscripts. At the head Of this
unique system of pedagogy is rector,
one Of the chief MoSlem authorities IN
Egypt, and a Governing Committee OF
i've Since 1929, number of reforms
have been gradually inaugurated to
adapt the teaching of the university
to present-day needs. but the present
sweeping changes are the most radical
El-AZhar has ever known.
Egypt also possesses splendid State
University in Cairo. This institution,
founded In 1908. was reorganized in
European style in 1925.
Offers Modern CorIseS.
lit offers courses in medicine, law, art
and sciences under both Egyptian and
European instructors. Recently the
American University at Cairo. which
gives courses in Oriental studies for for
eigners as well as courses for native
Egyptians, dedicated new Oriental
hall and a modern building for its
School of Oriental Studies
THE Ministry of Education OF Egypt
maintains at Cairo more than score OF
primary schools in the European style.
rs we'll as secondary schools, colleges
for teachers, and numerous native ele-
nentary schools"
FARM LIFE GOOD AID