§ 16. Mr. EDEasked the President of the Board of Education how many supplementary teachers were recognised for the first time during the year ending 3lst March, 1923; and will he state in full the qualifications as to age, education, training, and medical fitness that are demanded from a supplementary teacher on her first appointment?
Mr. WOODI regret I do not possess the information asked for in the first part of the question. With regard to the second part, I may refer the hon. Member to the last paragraph of the reply which I gave him on the 28th June last.
§ Mr. EDEWill not the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of getting into touch with the number of these teachers who are newly appointed, in view of the large number of unemployed teachers fully qualified?
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERIs it not a fact that every supplementary teacher employed has to be separately approved by his Department? Therefore, why is it that he cannot give the total number?
§ Mr. ALEXANDERIt is the regulation.
Mr. WOODEven so, I do not think I can give this information without asking the local authorities for a lot of rather detailed figures, which means considerable labour to put upon the staff unless it be necessary.
§ Mr. EDEIs it not the fact that the only qualification for these teachers is that they are women over 18 years of age who have been successfully vaccinated and have been approved by His Majesty's Inspector as proper persons to teach?
Mr. WOODNo; I think if the hon. Gentleman will look at the Code, he will see that there is some more qualification required than that.