§ 63. Mr. GEORGE HARVEYasked the President of the Board of Education what percentage of the scholars leaving elementary schools at the usual age of 14 take advantage of the facilities afforded for continued education; and is every encouragement given to such continuation scholars to specially help them forward in subjects of use to them in their working life?
§ Lord E. PERCYThe number of students between the ages of 14 and 15 attending part-time technical courses, continuation courses (including day continuation courses), courses at schools of art or art classes was, in the year 1922–23 (the latest year for which complete returns are available), 114,504; the number of elementary school leavers in that year was 470,877. It would, therefore, appear that about 24 per cent. of the leavers proceeded to attend part-time continuation courses. In addition to these, a substantial number of children, on leaving the elementary schools, proceeded to junior full-time technical and commercial courses. As regards the second part of the question, generally speaking, authorities provide instruction bearing on commercial and on industrial occupations, in addition to more general instruction.
§ Mr. WILLIAM GREENWOODIs the Noble Lord aware that Oldham has the highest percentage throughout the country?