§ MR. MACALEESEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, (1) whether his attention has been drawn to a resolution passed by the Belfast Teachers' Association, on the 2nd November last, in which they complain of the severity of the strain caused year by year in the Belfast group of districts by reason of the results system, and that the strain on both teachers and pupils is at the breaking point; (2) was a copy of this resolution sent to the head inspector, Mr. Stronge, and what action, if any, has been taken in the matter; (3) is he aware that the Belfast Teachers' Association sent a letter to Mr. Stronge, on the 7th December last, stating that if a Return were called for of the percentages of failures and No. 2 passes in the districts for the last five years, it would be found that they had increased every year, and in 1894 most of all; and (4) did Mr. Stronge forward this letter to the Commissioners, and, if so, will he state with what result?
§ Mr. GERALD BALFOURThe Commissioners of National Education, have no information as to the matters referred to in the second and third paragraphs, and their reply to the fourth paragraph is in the negative. The Commissioners have, however, received the resolution mentioned in the first paragraph, and the general subject with which it deals has been under their consideration, and will be the subject of special inquiry.