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the physical improvement of Afghan youth. The Directorate-General has extended its activities during the past twelve months, as witnessed by the fact that sporting events and tournaments in central and provincial schools as well as inter-school contests were arranged on a larger scale and Afghan teams of sports-men were sent to such countries as Japan, Soviet Russia and the People's Republic of China. The Boy Scouts' Association, which was formed nearly three years ago, has been making steady progress under the supervision of the Ministry of Education and the number of entrants, which at first was 400, has now greatly increased. The Boy Scouts are rendering valuable service in guiding other students and also assisting in maintaining order in schools. The Ministry of Education has been devoting more attention to exhibitions of student arts and crafts in recent years. This is done in order to stimulate a taste for the finer arts and crafts among boy and girl students. The number of articles put on display at these exhibitions has been growing. Last year many specimens of drawings, paintings, handicrafts (articles made of paper, cardboard, iron, wood, etc.) and knitted and tailored articles (by girls) were put on display, 100 of which were judged to be the best and awarded prizes. Since last year this exhibition, too, is held during the week in which the "Teachers' Day" is celebrated. This is done with the object of drawing public attention to the rôle played by the teacher and the school in their life. PART II SCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES Pushto Tolana (Pushto Academy): Pushto is the lingua-franca of the majority of the people of Afghanistan, but little research had been carried out in it. This task was at first taken up by a number of small associations entrusted with the task of collecting literary and scientific works in this language. The Pushto Academy was subsequently established in 1932, which is still occupied in the work of carrying on research in Pushto, its philology and literature. This Academy has provided a number of works on the vocabulary, grammar, history of literature and other literary works for readers. The greatest success of this Academy is the compilation of a Pushto Encyclopædia. The Academy took yet another step in enriching the Pushto language by undertaking the translation into Pushto of foreign books on science and general knowledge. The publications of the Academy total 17 volumes and booklets including an Encyclopædia of European languages. The Historical Society: The Society has continued its scientific research as before. It published a series of articles and books on Afghan history last year. Booklets on Afghan history during later centuries were also published by it. These booklets were published in the vernacular, but similar booklets directed at introducing Afghanistan to foreign readers were also compiled and published during the year. These include a booklet in English on Sino-Afghan relations and another one, in French, for foreign tourists wishing to visit historical places in the country. 18