§ 62 and 63. Mr. SCOTTasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he can state the average number of pupils per teacher in post-qualifying classes for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th years, respectively;
(2) whether he can state the number of primary classes in Scottish schools in which one teacher has to teach 30, 40, 50, or more pupils; and whether he will take steps to ensure that these classes are limited to a maximum of 30 pupils for each teacher?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. Johnston)The information available in the Department does not permit me to give all the figures asked for. In October, 1929, there were in the first three years of post-qualifying instruction, 4,758 classes with 40 pupils and under on the roll, and 221 with more than that number on the roll. In the later years of post-qualifying instruction there were at the same date 600 classes with 30 pupils and under and 47 classes with more than 30 pupils. As to the primary classes, the number exceeding the Code limit of 50 pupils habitually under the charge of one teacher is now negligible. I am afraid that it is impracticable at the present time to reduce that limit to 30.