Comboni College Prospectus [1938]

Indice     

General view of Khartum

Council and Staff

HIS LORDSHIP Mgr. FRANCIS XAVIER BINI, PH.D., D.D., BISHOP OF KHARTOUM

VERY REV. FR. A. VIGNATO, SUPERIOR GENERAL OF THE INSTITUTE, FOR THE AFRICAN MISSIONS

The College

The Chapel

Prospectus

Right Rev. Mgr. D. Comboni, after whom the "COMBONI COLLEGE" is named, was a Missionary in Central Africa in the year 1857. He founded the Institute of the Fathers for the African Missions and the order of the Missionary Sisters. He was elected Pro-Vicar, when he returned to Khartoum in 1872 and then became Bishop and Vicar Apostolic of all the Catholic Missions in Central Africa. He died in Khartoum at an early age of 50, on October the 10th., 1881.

He was a personal friend to General Gordon, as his correspondence amply testifies.

Gessi Pasha, whose name became famous for his antislavery work in Sudan, was nursed back to life by Bishop Comboni and the Sisters at Khartoum, after his catastrophic return journey from the Bahr-El-Ghazal.

The Comboni College is proud to be named after so great a man as Bishop Comboni.

COMBONI COLLEGE was founded in the year 1929 by the Fathers of the Catholic Mission of Khartoum, and Canadian Brothers of the Sacred Heart cooperated substantially in giving it a sound start.

An extension to the original building was inaugurated in 1934 to provide the Secondary Classes with ampler and more comfortable accommodation.

A Boarding House was initiated in 1938 on modern lines.

The present schoolbuildings are built to accommodate 400 boys and comprise a large Assembly Hall, a Science Laboratory, a Geography Lecture Room, a Study Hall, a Library, a Gymnasium, a Dining Room with kitchen quarters, two large Dormitories, an Infirmary, a Teachers’ Room, sixteen classrooms, and several bedrooms for the resident Staff.

The College is beautifully situated in the center of Khartoum. It includes a garden and a playground. And there are ample playing fields adjoining.

A swimming pool in the Bishop’s Villa at Khartoum North adds fun and sport to the customary Thursday outings.

BOARDERS. The Boarding House is spacious, airy and healthy, and accommodates as many as 100 boarders.

Individual attention is ensured. One of the Fathers is always with them, taking part in their recreations, coaching them in their studies, and supervising them everywhere, inside as well as outside the College.

The spiritual, intellectual and physical welfare of all the pupils, and especially the boarders, is the Fathers’ constant care.

The Boarders have greater facilities for acquiring a sound knowledge of English, for this is the the official language spoken in the College.

The regulations governing the admission of Boarders and their fees are found on p. 12 and p. 16.

SCHEME OF WORK. The Comboni College curriculum consists of three Courses, Secondary, Primary and Preparatory.

a) The Secondary Course: A full four year general course, comprising O. & N.T. History, English language and literature, Arabic, French, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, Bookkeeping, Shorthand, Typing, Art, Vocal Music, and Physical Exercises. Most pupils prepare for the office work by specializing in Commercial Subjects. Some few lay much stress on Science to prepare more directly for the Engineering, Law, Medicine, Economic and other Universities branches, or for any work of a less clerical nature.

The fifth year of this Course prepares the pupils of both Commercial and Scientific classes for the Oxford School Certificate Examination, through which Matriculation in any University may be obtained if passed with distinction.

b) The Primary Course: A full four year course, comprising Religious Knowledge, Arabic Language, English Language, Arithmetic in either languages, History, Geography, Biology, Hygiene, Drawing, Penmanship, Vocal Music and Physical Exercices. The Egyptian Program is carried out all through the Primary Classes to prepare the pupils for the Egyptian School Leaving Certificate Examination, which is taken at the end of the Fourth Year.

c) The Preparatory Course: Is a three year preparatory course for boys under the age of nine. They are taught the first elements of Arabic and English, together with some Arithmetic, Drawing and Penmanship.

NOTE: Latin, Greek, Italian, Armenian, and Hebrew are also taught as a part of the curriculum for those pupils who can prove to be interested in them.

Refectory

Regulations governing the admission of pupils

1. Boys are eligible for admission as pupils of the College who have either:

a) Passed and examination in a well known school and can produce a certificate of promotion, or

b) Passed the Entrance Examination of the College

2. The following certificates will be required of all applicants.

a) Certificate of birth and nationality.

b) Certificate of Baptism (Catholics only).

c) Certificate from school previously attended showing standard attained, if any course has been completed.

d) Certificate of good conduct from school previously attended.

e) Certificate of good health and vaccination.

3. Boarders are required to be provided with the following:

4. By the fact of his admission every pupil promises to observe the rules and regulations of the College.

5. The Principal of the College unconditionally reserves the right to refuse admission to any applicant.

Study Hall

Fees

a) Day-Pupils:

b) Boarders:

C) Remarks concerning fees:

1. Tuition and Boarding fees are to be paid monthly in advance. Day-pupils must pay them one month in advance and boarders two months in advance. Cheques should be made payable to the "Comboni College"

2. All fees must be paid within seven days of the receipt of the account.

3. The Sports fee is compulsory for all pupils. It must be paid to the Bursar together with the August tuition fee.

4. The above fees do not include doctor’s expenses, medicines, books, stationery, clothing, etc.

5. The College supervises to the laundry for the boarders.

6. No fees are returned. No reduction will be granted on account of a pupil’s absence, for any cause whatever, for periods less than one calendar month.

7. Parents are also required to pay for breakages or damages to apparatus and any school property.

8. Reduction is made for more than one fee-paying member of the same family.

9. No boy is allowed to attend the school after the first week of the month unless his fees are paid.

The College Certificates are awarded to pupils who pass the College 4th Primary final examination, and to those who gain the Oxford School Certificate. The College silver medals are issued to those who reach a total average of 90 per cent in the terminal examination, and the College bronze medals to those who reach 80 per cent total average.

Dormitory in the Boarders' House

At the closing of the School year, the Council award prizes to the pupils who excell in Good Conduct, Application and Order, (99 to 100 per cent average), and to the pupils who gain distinction in any of the following subjects:

a) O. or N.T. History, or Catechism; b) English; c) French; d) Commercial subjects; e) Mathematics and Science

95 and to 100 per cent average all the year round gives 1st prize.

90 to 95 per cent average all the year round gives 2nd prize.

95 to 90 per cent average all the year round gives 3rd prize.

First, second and third prizes are useful and interesting books for the value of 100, 60 and 20 piastres respectively for the Secondary boys, and of 50, 30 and 10 piastres respectively for the Primary and Preparatory boys.

Terms

The school year is divided into three terms, viz.:

First Term, from the 1st to the end of October; Second Term, from the beginning of November to the end of January; Third Term, from the beginning of February to the end of April.

School hours

School hours are from 7 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. Boys who are detained to finish work or as a punishment for misconduct may usually leave at 2.15 p.m.

There is no school on Thursday.

Home lessons

Home lessons should occupy an hour or an hour and a half in the lower forms, and from two to three in the higher. Parents and guardians are requested to see that boys spend a due amount of time over their home lessons and to communicate with the Principal if these seem excessive or insufficient.

Day pupils may be allowed to join the boarders and study their home lessons at school, under the direction of a teacher, on condition they attend every afternoon punctually from 3 to 6.30 p.m. Application should be made to the Principal and a supplementary fee of P.T. 10 should be paid in to the Bursar.

Reports

Each boy has a "report book" which contains a record of his conduct, application and order, and detailed reports of his position in class in all subjects. It is issued every first Friday of first Saturday of the month. Parents and guardians are requested to sign this report book, before it is returned to the Principal.

The Principal may be consulted by Parents or Guardians on any school day by appointment.

Medical Inspection

Pupils must be examined yearly either by their private doctors or by the School Medical Officer to obtain advice on their health and physical fitness. All boys are required to take part in Physical Exercises and organized games, unless exempt by a medical certificate.

A Student Governing Body and Houses

To cultivate a sense of responsability in the older pupils head boys are chosen from among the most serious ones to be members of a Student Governing Body. They are to direct their schoolmaster, to invigilate them, to deal with the slightest disputes, to report to the College authorities and to enforce the authorities’ orders.

For the purpose of more competitive work in Athletics as well as in any other school activity, and or the encouragement of the interest in the corporative life of the College, the Secondary boys are divided into four Houses, viz. House of Kent, House of Lancaster, House of Norfolk and House of York. Each House is under the special care of one or more of the masters, and a boy remains, during the whole of his secondary Course at the College, a member of the House to which he is assigned on entrance.

An Annual Sport Day is held in the Third Term at which several cups are competed for by the Houses, as well as cups, medals and prizes for individual boys. House competitions for Shields and Cups, Literary Work in English, French and Arabic, debates and scientific lectures, dramatic performances, concerts and social entertainments, manual artistic work, football, baseball, basketball, and volleyball, swimming and gymnastics, and indoor games are also held in the course of the year.

The "1st Comboni Khartoum Group" of Boy Scout

Our best boys are also members of the "1st Comboni" troop. No matter what nationality, or creed, as members of this association they learn how to do their duty to God and the King, and how to help other people at all times. To quote Lord Baden-Powell’s words, "they are looked up to by other boys and by grown-ups as fellows who can be trustees, fellows who will not funk doing their duties, however risky and dangerous it may be, fellows who are jolly and cheery no matter how great the difficulty before them".

Scout are guided and controlled by our school-teacher just as much as if they were sitting in their classes. Neither the Principal, however, nor the school masters hold themselves responsible for the members of this troop during the summer holidays or in meeting where the College authorities are not represented

School Costume

Although any ordinary civilian dress is acceptable usually when attending class, all pupils are required to provide the regulation costume which is a navy-blue jacket and knickers, or trousers. On several special occasions pupils are ordered to wear the school costume.

Each boy must also be provided with rubber shoes and shorts, and a shirt, or vest for physical exercises. Boys taking part in school games, viz.: football, volleyball, etc. must wear appropriate costume.

All orders for articles of school costume should be sent to the Secretary at the school.

Every article brought into the College must be clearly marked with the owner’s name and may be left only in authorized places. Neither the Principal nor the masters hold themselves responsible for loss, accident or damage of any kind.

Comboni College Prospectus, arabic version

School Rules [1938]

1. Boys are admitted on the understanding that the current rules and regulations of the College are observed, and they can only be allowed to remain in the College on these conditions, and subject to their progress and conduct being satisfactory. Pupils, whose work or conduct is unsatisfactory, may be suspended, or in extreme cases, expelled.

2. Registration must be repeated every year. As accommodation is limited, pupils should register their names and pay the corresponding fee, before the new applications for admission are to be taken into consideration by the Council, viz. before the end of June. Application for admission are accepted only until the end of July

3. A late-fee of one Egyptian Pound for every ten days delay is charged for all those, who fail to attend the College from the opening day besides depriving them of any right to prizes and medals.

4. Boys must not be absent from School without permission except in case of illness. Excuses for absence and applications for leave of absence must be in writing, and addressed to the Principal, to whom they must be given before school. The reason for absence must be stated.

5. In case of delay, a note stating the cause of late-coming is also required from the parents or guardians of the pupils.

6. Pupils are required to show, both within and without the College, the respect for order, morality, personal honur and the rights of others, that is the characteristic of good citizens. Failure to comply with these rules will compel one to withdraw from the College. The authorities of the College reserve the right to dismiss a pupil without any definite reason.

7. Silence and attention are strictly requested by the pupils during the lessons. They are expected to be clean and tidy in their personal appearance, in their books and copybooks; no waste paper should be thrown upon the floor. If for a serious reason a pupil should be sent out of the class by his teacher, the Principal should be notified immediately and the pupil himself must call upon him for a private interview.

8. Nickmames are forbidden among the boys, and still more kicks, blows or any such rude manners.

9. The Secondary School Boys are separate from the Primary Preparatory School Boys, and pupils are strictly requested to play with those of their own age and size.

10. A Boarder will not be allowed to visit friends in town, unless parents or guardians themselves obtain the permission from the Principal and this permission is granted only on the 1st Sunday of every month. The pupils must return from such visits by a specific time.

Relatives and friends may not call upon our pupils during school or study hours. Ordinary visits to Boarders may be allowed only once a week and that on Sunday either in the morning from 11 to 12, or in the afternoon from 4.30 to 5.30.

No Boarder will be allowed to go to the cinema or any public performance, unless he is accompanied either by one of the teachers or by one of his relatives