§ 7. Mr. KINGasked the President of the Board of Education the number of teachers from elementary and secondary schools, respectively, who have passed into the Army or Navy; what is the number required of additional teachers to secure the working of the Education Act, 1918, at the end of five and of ten years, respectively; whether adequate means are being taken to attract and train such teachers; whether any large number of female teachers have left teaching during the past four years for war services; if so, how many; and whether he expects the return to teaching of any large number of these on the termination of the War?
Mr. FISHERI informed the hon. Member on 16th May last that it was estimated that over 20,000 teachers had been released for military and naval 100 service from elementary schools and about 2,500 from grant-aided secondary schools. I am about to ask for an up-to-date return from the school authorities. The number of women teachers who have left the teaching service for war work during the last four years is not large, and is far less than the number of women who had left the teaching service before the War but have since returned to the schools. I hope that the improved prospects of the teaching profession, resulting from steps which I have already taken and from the measure which I hope Parliament will pass this Session, will secure not only the return of the great majority of teachers but a very large accession of additional teachers. The remainder of the question cannot be suitably dealt with within the limits of a question and answer. I can assure the hon. Member, however, that the supply of teachers is engaging my most careful attention.