§ 51. Sir JOHN WITHERSasked the President of the Board of Education how many additional teachers of practical subjects, such as physical training, woodwork, and domestic science, are being trained in view of the proposed raising of the school-leaving age; whether any of these and, if so, how many are included in the 1,100 additional teachers already being trained; and at what dates will these teachers of practical subjects have completed their training?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANThe number of students in Training Colleges for Domestic Subjects this year exceeds last, year's number by 80. The additional students who entered the Colleges in 1929 will complete their training in 1931 or 1932. It is not possible to give separate figures for teachers of woodwork, as this is an optional subject, included in the curriculum of a number of ordinary Training Colleges, and it is not yet known how many students will offer the subject in their final examination. Physical training is included in the course of every ordinary student at a two-year Training College.
§ 47. Sir J. WITHERS (for Duchess of ATHOLL)asked the President of the Board of Education if he will state the names of the 180 local education authorities who have sent in programmes containing estimates of the numbers of additional teachers required in the event of the raising of the school-leaving age as from April, 1931?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI shall be glad to send the Noble Lady the names of the 180 Authorities for which she asks.
§ 48. Sir J. WITHERS (for Duchess of ATHOLL)asked the President of the Board of Education how many teachers additional to the present, average annual output of teachers for public elementary schools are to begin a two years' course in the training colleges in September next?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANThe average annual output of teachers following two-year training courses for the last four years has been about 5,700; about 6,460 students entered on such courses in 1929, and about 6,200 are expected to enter in 1930. The result of the large additional entry of two-year students in 1929 has, of course, been to reduce the number of additional vacancies available in 1930.
§ Mr. C. WILLIAMSCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us the difference between the number of males and females?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI am afraid I have not that information.
§ 49. Sir J. WITHERS (for Duchess of ATHOLL)asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the fact that the programmes of 180 out of a total of 318 local education authorities show an anticipated need of 8,504 additional teachers in 1932 in the event of the raising of the school-leaving age as from 1st April, 1931, he has revised his estimate that the total number of teachers required from 1938 onwards is not more than 7,500?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI do not think there is any reason to revise the estimate I have given of the additional teachers likely to be required on account of the raising of the school age in the year 1938, when the number of children in the additional age-group will have become more or less stabilised. The figure of 8,504 is not comparable, since 571 it relates to a year when there will be more children in the schools and covers normal expansion as well as the raising of the school-leaving age.