Educational Establishments in the Ottoman Arab Mashriq: Historical statistical study based on Ottoman documents _{المؤسسات التعليمية في المشرق العربي العثماني: دراسة تاريخية احصائية في ضوء الوثائق العثمانية}

The subject of education and educational establishments in the Ottoman Arab provinces is one of those on which libraries are generally scarce. The common feature of the few studies existing is the absence of recourse to Ottoman official documents. The subject had thus not been studied deeply enough; therefore the importance of this book. The latter provides researchers with new information. Its methodology and presentation also adds to its value as an extensive reference.

The book is divided into thirteen chapters. The first chapter describes the general characteristics of the education system in the Ottoman Empire, its foundation, its evolution, its terminology. The second chapter deals with educational establishments in the provinces, their administration, educational councils, inspection services in general, measures taken by the Ministry of Education, among other aspects. The remaining eleven chapters study the schools at different levels of education: primary (ruşdiye mektebi), secondary and post-secondary (sultaniye mektebi), vocational training schools and establishments for higher education (including law schools, medical schools, schools for religious studies), military and police schools, traditional Islamic schools (medreses), Muslims' private schools, non-Muslim communities' schools, and foreign schools.

Each chapter begins with an introductory part about the system at the level of education under study, its foundations, development and programs. The annexes to the book contain reproductions of documents and historical photographs.

IRCICA is pleased to publish this valuable book which will contribute remarkably to sources and studies on the history of education in the Ottoman Arab provinces.