HC Deb 02 July 1964 vol 697 cc1524-5
12 and 13. Sir J. Pitman

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many classes are teaching shorthand and typewriting, respectively, in maintained secondary schools; and how many teachers who are employed to teach these subject are certificated as teachers and hold a teacher's certificate recognised by him for the teaching of such skills; how many are not certificated teachers but hold a recognised certificate for such skills; and how many hold no such certificate;

(2) how many classes are teaching shorthand and typewriting, respectively, in further education institutions; and how many teachers who are employed to teach these subjects are certificated as teachers and hold a teacher's certificate recognised by him for the teaching of such skills; how many people are not certificated teachers but hold a recognised certificate for such skills; and how many hold no such certificate.

Mr. Hogg

I am sorry to tell my hon. Friend that the information requested is not available.

Sir J. Pitman

Will my right hon. and learned Friend recognise that the information which is unofficially available is that there is an immense shortage of such qualified teachers and that with the present policy of seeking to have qualified teachers in the service, it is inevitable that something will have to be done about the training of teachers of shorthand and typewriting, seeing that the present annual out-turn is not enough, with marriage, even to keep abreast of the deficiency? Will he kindly look into this?

Mr. Hogg

I will certainly consider any material which my hon. Friend puts in my hands.

Mr. Dalyell

Is not this a serious reflection on the Department's education statistics?

Mr. Hogg

I do not think so. The situation is that up to now there has not existed any statistical information about subjects taught in schools. A pilot survey of 13 schools is at present in progress and may be followed by a broadly-based sample survey. At further education establishments, which may be more important in this connection and certainly not less important, details are collected only of courses leading to recognised qualifications, and shorthand and typewriting courses are not within this category. Local and area colleges of further education, numbering about 500, and evening institutes, of which there are 7,700, normally provide classes in shorthand and typing.