§ MR. JAMES STUARTasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that a circular has been issued, dated 6th July, by the Intermediate Education Board for Ireland, containing a list of proposed changes in the intermediate examinations for girls, and stating that the proposed changes will be taken into consideration early in November next; whether he is aware that, with a view to drawing up the rules and programme for 1887, it is necessary that a determination should be come to on this matter before the end of the present year; whether he is aware that the proposed changes involve the sanction of a different standard for girls and boys instead of the common standard at present existing; whether he is aware that similar proposals have been repeatedly made or circulated of late years by the Intermediate Education Commissioners, and whether such alteration, if carried into effect, would prevent women in many cases from being properly prepared so as to avail themselves of the facilities afforded them by the Royal University of Ireland by Act of Parliament; and, whether, in consideration of the facts of the case, he will advise the Lord Lieutenant to withhold his sanction from such a change in the standard?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir WILLIAM HART DYKE)The Board of Intermediate Education have issued a Circular inviting an expression of opinion from 521 persons engaged in the education of girls as to certain proposed changes in their programme of examinations. These changes, if adopted, would, it appears, come up for the sanction of the Lord Lieutenant next year, and would come into operation the year after. Their effect would appear to be that, while girls would still be able to compete in the same programme with boys, they would have the option of being examined in a course restricted to girls alone. It would obviously be premature for me to give such advice as that suggested in the last paragraph of the Question.