HC Deb 11 March 1937 vol 321 cc1327-8
44. Mr. Ernest Evans

asked the President of the Board of Education how many men and women teachers, respectively, left the training colleges and University training departments in 1936; and how many of those men and women, respectively, have up to the present failed to obtain employment as teachers?

Mr. Stanley

The number of men and women teachers respectively who left training colleges and University training departments in 1936, was 2,066 and 4,482. Of these, excluding those who are known not to have attempted to obtain posts or about whom the colleges have no information, 468 men and 396 women were reported as not having obtained employment as teachers by 31st December, 1936. Many of these will by now have obtained posts.

Mr. Lawson

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that very many of those 400,000 have not obtained positions, and in view of that, will he give the matter close attention?

Mr. Stanley

We always give this matter close attention, but the figures are better than they were last year. I would point out that whereas all students leave the training colleges at the end of the summer, vacancies occur only at different times during the year, and that therefore we can safely anticipate that by the end of the summer the great majority of these teachers will have obtained appointments.

Mr. Ammon

Would not the position be relieved if the right hon. Gentleman asked education authorities to enforce the retiring age more strictly than now?

Mr. Stanley

That is another point. Perhaps the hon. Member will put that question on the Paper.