§ 16. Sir ROBERT THOMASasked the President of the Board of Education if he will state, in view of the increasing importance of the study of foreign languages, what facilities, for which his Department is responsible, at present exist whereby British students may take language courses abroad at small expense; how many educational institutions have arrangements with foreign institutions for the interchange of students; and will he state to what extent these various facilities were made use of during the last educational year?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Lord Eustace Percy)As the reply to this question is rather long, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:—
§ Under the convention between the Board of Education and the French Ministry of Public Instruction, a full account of which was given in Chapter X of the Board's Annual Report for 1924–25, a number of young English teachers and intending teachers of French are appointed to schools and colleges in France, receiving free board and lodging in return for 12 hours' conversa- 2434 tion lessons per week; for the rest of the time they are free to pursue their own studies in the schools and elsewhere. The numbers holding such appointments are stated each year in the Board's Report; in 1926–27 there were 14 men and 40 women. In addition, periods of study abroad, assisted by grant under the Regulations, may be taken by intending teachers either as part of their degree courses or as supplementary courses, and by acting teachers through the medium of assisted studentships. During 1926–27 30 students at university training departments took part of their courses abroad, and two took supplementary courses. During the current year 11 assisted studentships were awarded, of which five were for study abroad. It is also open to holders of State scholarships to undertake a period of study abroad where such a period forms an integral part of their university course.