§ MR. DOLAN (Leitrim, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether in the proposed new rules of the Intermediate Education Board (Ireland) for 1908, is included one which requires that candidates should pass in two languages, exclusive of English, in order to qualify; is he aware that, in reply to the Commissioners'circular inviting the opinion of educational bodies and teachers as to the advisability of making such a regulation, the great majority of the replies were entirely opposed to it; and whether these facts will be taken into consideration before the sanction of the House is given to the new rules.
MR. BRYCEThe rule quoted in the Question is subject to important qualifications, viz.:—Only one language other than English is required in the preparatory grade; students of the three upper grades who have already passed with one language are not required to pass in more than one unless the previous pass was in the preparatory grade; girls are allowed to pass under conditions that do not require them to take two languages. The Board of Intermediate Education obtained the opinions of schoolmasters on the desirability and feasibility of the change, and, though the majority thought it undesirable, there were very few who thought it would not be possible to teach two languages. The teachers' opinions and all the other circumstances of the case were fully considered when the rules were being framed.
§ MR. CLANCY (Dublin County, N.)Will the leaving out of the date deprive this House of the right of objecting to this programme in any future year.