§ 26. Mr. RHYSasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that students leaving training colleges in England and Wales are experiencing difficulty n finding employment; and what steps does he propose to take in the matter?
§ 29. Mr. HANNONasked the President of the Board of Education the exact amount per head expended from public funds during the two years' course at training colleges for teachers of men and women students, respectively; and if he can give the number of male and female teachers who have left training colleges last year and who have not secured employment as teachers?
§ Lord E. PERCYI am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT some statistics bearing on this question. The conclusion from these figures would seem to be that the state of unemployment among teachers has been much exaggerated. The percentage of teachers who are absorbed within 18 months after leaving college has, in fact, improved in the last two years, though teachers who left college last July are being absorbed somewhat less rapidly than those who left in July, 1925. The number of teachers retiring annually on account of age, death or infirmity has fallen by over 1,000 since September, 1924, while in the same period the number of certificated posts has increased by over 3,000, but it is evident from the statistics that prospects in the profession depend not only upon these calculable factors but also upon the annual wastage due to teachers quitting the profession for private reasons, as to which no safe estimate can be made.
§ Lord E. PERCYThat hardly arises out of the question. The teachers leaving training colleges are certificated teachers.
§ Colonel DAYCan the Noble Lord say what is the percentage of teachers absorbed?
§ Lord E. PERCYThat will be found in the statistics which I am publishing in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the statistical statement:
§ The returns furnished by training colleges do not enable me to state the exact amount per head expended from public funds in respect of two-year courses, but according to the latest available figures for voluntary colleges (1924–25), the average amounts of grant paid by the Board on account of two-year students were:
| Per Annum. | |||
| £ | s. | d. | |
| 'Resident man student | 70 | 9 | 9 |
| Day man student | 54 | 16 | 8 |
| Resident woman student | 59 | 7 | 7 |
| Day woman student | 45 | 8 | 7 |
§ From the accounts furnished to the Board for the same period, it appears that the average expenditure per student at colleges provided by local authorities was about £70. In addition, local authorities may pay the fees, etc., of students who attend colleges not provided by them.
§ Of 6.900 teachers who left training colleges and university training departments in July, 1924, and about whom the authorities of the colleges had information, 6.580 or 95.4 per cent. had obtained posts by December, 1925; 125 or 1.8 per cent. had not attempted to obtain posts; and 195 or 2.8 per cent. had failed to obtain posts. The corresponding figures for December, 1926, relating to those who left college in July, 1925, are:—7,001; 6,752 (96.5 per cent.); 85 (1.2 per cent.): and 164 (2.3 per cent.).
§ Figures can also be given (though they are not exactly comparable) of the number of teachers obtaining posts in the same year as they left college. Of 6,845 teachers who left college in July, 1925, and about whom the authorities had information at the time, 6,259 or 91.4 per cent. had obtained posts by December, 1925; 155 or 2.3 per cent. had not attempted to obtain posts; and 431 or 6.3 per cent. had failed to obtain posts. The corresponding figures for December, 1926, relating to students who left 542 college in July, 1926, are:—7,058; 6,156 (87.2 per cent.); 146 (2.1 per cent.); and 756 (10.7 per cent.).
§ Age retirements of teachers on pension—year to September, 1924, 3,077; September, 1925, 2,723; September, 1926, 2,101.
§ Death and infirmity retirements of teachers in the last three years:—1,149; 1,139; 1,122.
§ Increase in the number of certificated teachers—year to September, 1924, 727; September, 1925, 2,170; September, 1926, 834.