HC Deb 18 November 1941 vol 376 cc165-7
28. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can make a statement on the educational facilities now provided in the Army?

Captain Margesson

As the answer is long and contains a great deal of detail, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Major Vyvyan Adams

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that the A.B.C.A. publications are stimulating, well compiled, and of great value?

Following is the answer:

The scheme for education in the Army is a voluntary one. Demand is stimulated and organised by the personnel of the Army Education Corps, working through regimental officers, who undertake the duties of Unit Education officers and Unit Education Committees. Demands are met mainly from local resources provided—

  1. (a) by the units themselves from military personnel;
  2. (b) by Regional Committees for Adult Education in His Majesty's Forces, co-ordinated by the Central Advisory Council. The 23 Regional Committees are each based on a university. They include representatives of the universities, the various voluntary bodies whose business it is to organise education for adults in peace-time, and the local education authorities. The panels drawn up by the Regional Committees at present include some 3,000 lecturers and instructors;
  3. (c) by the local education authorities direct.

Direct instruction is also given by other rank personnel of the Army Educational Corps, especially in Infantry Training Centres, Military and Emergency Medical Service hospitals and convalescent depôts. Lectures are given on a wide variety of topics. They comprise single talks or lectures, with opportunities for questions and discussion, courses of connected lectures and informal talks. The number of set lectures given monthly is at present about 9,000. Class instruction is given by instructors provided by units, by visiting instructors provided mainly by the local education authorities, and by arrangement with local technical and evening schools. In the case of the last-named, transport may be hired, or War Department transport provided, for free conveyance of parties of not less than five soldiers to classes. Where fees are required, the local rate is paid from Army Funds. The subjects studied in classes are limited only by the demand and the local resources available. They at present number about 150 and some 3,000 classes monthly are being held.

Vocational correspondence courses have been drawn up in collaboration with the professional institution concerned. The subjects dealt with fall under the general heads of law, insurance, banking, engineering (civil, mechanical and electrical), surveying, auctioneering, estate and land agency, accountancy, secretarial, and grocery. Further courses may be added as offers of service are received from the professional bodies. Arrangements have been made in conjunction with certain commercial correspondence colleges to establish courses in more general subjects up to approximately matriculation standard. After formal enrolment of students by the War Office, the courses will be conducted direct by these colleges. An enrolment fee of 10s. is charged to the student. Text-books for organised classes, where not obtainable from public libraries or local educational authorities, are provided from Army Funds. The textbooks essential for the vocational correspondence courses are also provided on loan to the soldier from Army Funds. Arrangements are being made for these to be purchased and issued by the Services Central Book Depot, which will form a central lending library, for the purpose. Other educational books are obtained from public libraries, in conjunction with the National Central Library.

Special funds have been provided in order to encourage instruction in handicrafts. In addition a great many activities of a less formal but very valuable kind have been and are being developed in units, such as discussion and listening groups, dramatic, musical, artistic and reading groups, debates and gramophone recitals. Educational and instructional films are regularly used and libraries of these are being formed. Talks suitable for discussion groups are given three times a week in the Home Service Programme of the British Broadcasting Corporation, and a news commentary and a talk on current affairs is given twice a week in the Forces Programme.

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