§ 7. Mr. CAMPBELLasked the President of the Board of Education what is the total of the teaching establishments of local education authorities approved by the Board for the year 1927–28; and what was the number of teachers employed by local education authorities on 30th September, 1924, 1925 and 1926, respectively?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Lord Eustace Percy)After allowing for the few cases in which the authority's proposals are still under consideration, I estimate that the establishments 558 approved for the current year will comprise about 168,380 teachers. The number of recognised full-time teachers employed on 30th September, 1924, was 164,201, and on the corresponding dates in 1925 and 1926, 165,997 and 166,589, respectively. In comparing these figures it should, of course, be remembered that the approved establishments represent estimates which may not be fully realised in every case.
§ 10. Mr. HARRISasked the President of the Board of Education if he will state what is the number of local education authorities with which the Board of Education have been in communication, as a result of the issue of Circular 1,388 or following the issue of Memorandum 44 or otherwise, with a view to the reduction in the number of teachers on the approved establishment for elementary schools; what will be the reduction, in the aggregate, of the approved establishments of the local education authorities for elementary schools if the Board's suggestions for limiting personnel and reducing expenditure on teachers' salaries are carried out; and what is the number of local education authorities which the Board have asked to increase the number of teachers on the approved establishment for elementary schools?
§ Lord E. PERCYEighty-four authorities were informed that the Board were not satisfied, on the information before them, that the salary expenditure for the year 1926–27 might not be reduced without injury to the efficiency of the schools in their areas, but in a number of these cases the Board agreed, on the receipt of further information, to accept the authority's estimate. As regards the establishments proposed for 1927–28, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I have just given to my hon. Friend the Member for North-West Camberwell (Mr. Campbell).
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSArising out of the last part of the answer, have the Yorkshire West Riding Education Committee been called upon to increase the number of teachers in some of their schools where at present there are classes of 60 pupils and over?
§ Lord E. PERCYIf the hon. Member wants information as to a particular authority, I am afraid I must ask for notice of the question.
§ 11. Mr. HARRISasked the President of the Board of Education whether he can state the number of trained teachers, men and women, respectively, expected to leave the colleges this year; whether the Board has considered any plan which would obviate the loss of moral, disappointment and possible wastage to the teaching profession of ex-training college students who have to face a long period of unemployment after leaving the training colleges; and whether the Board will consider the possibility of encouraging local education authorities to employ these young teachers in a supernumerary capacity until their services are required for class teaching and until they can be absorbed into the approved establishments by paying grant upon a larger percentage, say 80 per cent. instead of 60 per cent., of the teachers' salaries?
§ Lord E. PERCYAccording to the information in the possession of my Department, it is anticipated that 2,057 men and 5,561 women will be leaving training colleges this year. As regards the second part of the question, the figures quoted in the reply given by me on the 3rd March last to my hon. Friends the Members for Romford and Moseley (Mr. Rhys and Mr. Hannon), a copy of which I am sending the hon. Member, do not, I think, indicate any serious amount of unemployment. As regards the suggestion made in the last part of the question, I think it would be highly improper for any local authority to spend public money on the maintenance of a redundant staff.
§ Mr. HARRISDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise how serious it is for these young people, if there is a considerable waiting period between the time when they leave college and the time when they enter upon their profession; and will he consider having an inquiry to find out how this period can be shortened so as to cause as little hardship as possible by an alteration of the arrangements for the engagement of teachers on their first appointments?
§ Lord E. PERCYI agree that it is always a hardship to have to wait for a job after you have left college. At the same time, I do not think the teaching profession can expect that the demand for teachers will be adjusted to the supply accurately and immediately every 560 September in every year. If the hon. Member will look at the figures I have furnished to the House, he will see that the problem is not as serious in the teaching profession as it is in practically every other.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs it the view of the President that the children exist for the teachers or the teachers for the children? [HON. MEMBERS: "Both!"]