Bothan Institute

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The Bothan Institute was a boarding school for girls set up in 1704 AN on the island of Botha, situated in the Bay of Chryse, at the initiative of Ayesha al-Osman. Upon their entry into the institute, girls would be considered to have become inducted into the cadres of the Nationalist & Humanist Party and graduates would subsequently be called upon to support the N&H Future Leadership Programme.

Foundation

The Residence on the island of Botha, the left wing of which was made available to the Bothan Institute by Ayesha al-Osman, who retained the full use of the remainder of the building.

The purpose of the institute was to provide an education for the daughters of meritorious subjects who had attained tribunal rank or higher in the service of the Nationalist & Humanist Party, the Benacian Union Defence Force, the Corps of the Gentlemen-at-Cudgels, the Honourable Company, or the Worshipful Guild of the Sacred Carnifices. Whilst the premises for the institute was made available by the High Commissioner for Chryse, Ayesha al-Osman, the funding for the endeavour was obtained via the means of a yearly amicable grant taken from the liveried companies and guild chapters of the port city. The institute was duly chartered by the Benacian Academy in 1705 AN, in return for a favourable adjustment of the rent owed by the academy for properties leased from the city on the site of the former Royal University of Chryse.

Organisation

Portrait of the graduating class of 1709 AN, displayed in the dining halls of the senior cohort.

Taking inspiration from the Sarayzenana of Raspur, the pupils were divided into two cohorts from seven to twelve years, and from twelve to sixteen years. The institute would provide dress uniforms in dark-blue cotton for the junior cohort and a white linen frock dress with salmon-pink blouse and underskirts for the seniors.

Parents or guardians who assigned the girl to the institute were required to give a written commitment that they, prior to the expiration of the period set for education, will not demand her back under any circumstances.

Cohorts & Classes

Age Class	Ribbon Colour
Junior Cohort (Dark-Blue)
Seven to Eight	Black
Eight to Nine	Brown
Nine to Ten	Red
Ten to Eleven	Orange
Eleven to Twelve	Yellow
Senior Cohort (White)
Twelve to Thirteen	Green
Thirteen to Fourteen	Spring Green
Fourteen to Fifteen	Cyan
Fifteen to Sixteen	Blue

Education

Students from the Senior Cohort hosting visiting inspectors from the N&H Future Leadership Programme.

During the training, special attention was paid to the Law of the Highest Divinity and to the precepts of Humanism. Pupils additonally studied subjects such as Praeta, mathematics, physics, chemistry, geography, biology, arts, music, physical education, religion, history and the ars technica. They are also required to study at least three other languages in addition to Praeta. The usual combinations being Istvanistani, Alexandrian and Babkhi.

All the pupils days played out according to the same timetable: they got up at six am and went to their classrooms at seven with the first prayers of the days, before having their morning meal in the refectory. They then studied from eight until midday before having lunch. The lunch break lasted until two pm, when classes began again. These lasted until six pm, when they had supper. They finally went to bed at nine pm. Each moment of the day was punctuated by a prayer to the Highest Divinity after the Holodomaic manner.

Helping in the domestic tasks at the institute formed part of the students' education. The senior cohort were obliged to attend upon the teachers as servants, whilst the juniors would be paired to a senior to serve in turn. Their collective leisure time was also important and Ayesha al-Osman encouraged the students to use them for intellectual games such as chess, though games of chance were prohibited.

The discipline in the institute was rigorous, its students had no holidays and were not allowed to see their families more than four times a year, in the reception hall situated amongst the grounds of the residence. The dormitories were not heated, the beds were firm in order not to 'soften' the pupils, and they washed in cold water only.

If ever required to visit the mainland the pupils are obligated to at all times be accompanied by a female member of staff as a close chaperone and, whilst in a public setting, to wear the hooded full-length blue-woollen cloak of a Cedrist penitent. The pupil and her chaperone will also be assigned a minder from the Corps of the Gentlemen-at-Cudgels for the duration. No more than two pupils are ever permitted to be off the island at the same time, with each instance requiring the personal authorisation of the Commissioner of the city.