§ 5. Mr. Ralph Morleyasked the Minister of Education how many intending women teachers who applied for places in September of this year in training colleges and university departments had been unable to gain admission.
§ Mr. TomlinsonThe Clearing House organised by the Association of Teachers in Training Colleges and Departments of Education, with which most of the training colleges co-operate, has on its books the names of 2,250 women candidates who have so far been unable to secure places. There are from 200 to 250 further vacancies for which some of these candidates are being or will be considered.
§ Mr. MorleyDoes my right hon. Friend realise the perplexity of these young women when they see advertisements in the educational Press urging young women to become teachers and read reports of eloquent speeches made by my right hon. Friend also urging them to become teachers, and yet they cannot get a place in a training college in the country? What is my right hon. Friend doing about it?
§ Mr. TomlinsonIf those young women had read the eloquent speeches of the hon. Member's right hon. Friend they would not be in the state about which he speaks, because the 2,250 candidates waiting for admission for whom no place can be found this year are in addition to those who have been accepted and are being trained. In order to relieve anxiety, I have pointed out to all the applicants that they can be considered for next year. We are speaking not about the emergency training colleges but about the permanent colleges. These are for young girls coming out of school who want to go direct into college. We have doubled the provision for next year, and there is a hope that all the suitable candidates will be accepted next year.