§ MR. MURPHY (Kerry, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Commissioners of National Education have officially stated that it was impracticable for one teacher to instruct separately and efficiently six different classes, as was the case in small schools under the results 1664 system; and, if so, whether, in the case of such teachers who did not receive their training diplomas owing to service under these circumstances, and who have given thoroughly satisfactory service under the new system, the issue of these diplomas would be reconsidered, or is it the intention of the Commissioners to penalise permanently those teachers for unsatisfactory service under conditions which the Commissioners have admitted to be impracticable for success and have revised.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that a statement to the effect mentioned was made in their introduction to the revised programme of instruction issued in 1901. This statement, which should be read with the context, formed part of an exposition of the necessity for altering the methods of school organisation which existed under the obsolete system of payment by results. Training diplomas are awarded by the Commissioners to King's scholars who, after training, have given two years satisfactory service as teachers. The Commissioners see no reason to reconsider cases in which diplomas were disallowed after adequate time had been afforded to King's scholars to earn them by satisfactory service. I will send to the hon. Member a detailed statement which I have received from the Commissioners, giving their reasons.