HC Deb 03 April 1928 vol 215 cc1774-6
19. Mr. STEPHEN

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of students who completed their course of training as teachers with the Glasgow Provincial Committee in June, 1925, 1926, and 1927, respectively; and the number of men and women with the different qualifications whom the committee's records show to be still unemployed?

Sir J. GILMOUR

As the answer to this question involves a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. STEPHEN

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a great amount of unemployment among these teachers, and will he take steps to hurry up the reduction in the number of pupils in the classes which will be beneficial to the children and also to the teachers?

Mr. SPEAKER

That question should be addressed to another Department?

Mr. MAXTON

Having regard to the fact that the training of one teacher involves a considerable expense to the country, will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to see that a large number of these teachers are not left standing idle in the streets? Will he take steps immediately, without a general reduction in the size of the classes, to impress upon the Scottish education authorities the necessity for employing these teachers?

Sir J. GILMOUR

No, Sir, that is not within my province. If more people fit themselves for this profession than are required for the limited number of posts available, that must be a matter for the public to judge.

Mr. MAXTON

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean that he has no responsibility for the expenditure of several hundreds of pounds of public money upon the training of a teacher, which must be spent unnecessarily if those teachers are not to be employed after they have been trained?

Following are time figures:

The following TABLE shows the number of Teachers with different qualifications who completed their training and were still unemployed at the dates indicated. The information is derived from tables drawn up by the National Committee for the Training of Teachers and do not claim to be complete as far as the number of teachers in employment is concerned; it is possible that more teachers get employment than the Committee is aware of. It is to be observed that particulars regarding teachers who completed their training at June, 1925, are not available later than the 31st of January, 1927:—
Qualification for which trained. Completed June, 1925. Still unemployed at 31st January, 1927. Completed June, 1926. Still unemployed at 31st January, 1928. Completed June, 1927. Still unemployed at 31st January, 1928.
Men. Women. Men. Women. Men. Women. Men. Women. Men. Women. Men. Women.
General Certificate (Chapter III). 61 322 2 9 90 403 4 17 128 434 24 145
383 11 493 21 562 169
Special Certificate (Chapter V) 6 36 — 1 6 18 — — 3 4 — —
42 1 24 — 7 —
General and Special Certificates (Chapters III and V concurrently). 32 7 — 76 13 2 — 60 31 6 11
39 — 89 2 91 17
Technical Certificate (Chapter VI). 10 76 1 58 11 49 1 27 32 54 9 42
86 59 60 28 86 51
109 441 3 68 183 483 7 44 223 523 39 198
550 71 666 51 746 237