§ MR. VESEY KNOX (Londonderry)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that much discontent has been caused among teachers by the alteration of Rule 154 of the National Education Board, as to promotion from one division to another of the second class without notice; and whether he will recommend that for the future notice shall be given before an examination is required for a promotion, hitherto dependent on the efficiency of the school, and that the new rule shall not come into force without a reasonably delay?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe subject-matter of this question will come before the Commissioners at their meeting to be held on the 20th instant, and I am not prepared to make any statement in reference to it until I have been furnished with the observations of the Commissioners.
§ MR. FLYNNI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of 1354 Ireland (1) in view of the evidence given before the Committee on Manual Instruction, and also of the strong representations made by the Commissioners of National Education showing the disastrous effects of maintaining the present high standard of average attendance at school in order to qualify for an assistant teacher, whether he will make a representation to the Treasury with a view to secure sufficient funds to enable the Commissioners to meet the expenditure which would result from a reduction of the average necessary from 70 to 60; and (2) whether he can state the average attendance necessary to qualify for a second teacher in English schools?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI can only repeat what I have already stated in answer to former Questions put to me by the hon. Member, that I shall be prepared again to bring this matter before the Treasury in connection with the Estimates for the year 1898–99, should the Commissioners so desire. I have no information as to the second paragraph.