HC Deb 21 June 1900 vol 84 cc631-2
MR. CROMBIE (Kincardineshire)

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether the attention of the Education Department has been called to the inadequacy of the number of students in the training colleges (especially in the western division) to meet the increasing demand for teachers owing to the growth of the number of children attending schools, and the reduction of the size of classes enjoined by the Code; and whether the Department will consider the necessity of taking measures to increase the number of adequately trained teachers.

*THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. A. GRAHAM MURRAY, Buteshire)

In reply to the question of the hon. Member, I have to state that the Department has, from time to time, received representations to the effect that the supply of trained teachers is not sufficient. The relation between supply and demand is at all times a difficult one, influenced as it must be by various circumstances. It must be remembered that the training, colleges are not the only source from which the supply of trained teachers may be recruited; but the Department is prepared to consider any proposals for maintaining the adequacy of that supply.

MR. CROMBIE

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether the attention of the Education Department has been called to the dissatisfaction felt by Queen's Scholarship candidates who duly qualify but are refused admission to the training colleges in order to give place to candidates entering without examination under Article 70 (d) 6, and 95 (a) 2; and whether the Department will either give a preference to Queen's Scholar candidates or impose some further competitive test on the other classes of candidates referred to.

*MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAY

Candidates for admission to training colleges may qualify either by the Queen's Scholarship examination or by the Leaving Certificate examination. The question as to which examination produces the most promising class of student is one which can be settled only by experience, and the Department is not prepared to interfere with the discretion of the training college authorities in this respect, or to impose any further competitive test upon either class.