HC Deb 16 October 1952 vol 505 cc377-8
34. Dr. King

asked the Minister of Education what steps she has taken, or is taking, to increase the number of recruits to the teaching profession.

Miss Horsbrugh

Present arrangements for recruitment and training provide for an annual increase in the national teacher strength of some 3,000–4,000 teachers.

Dr. King

As the next figures which the Minister will publish for each class in the country will be even more alarming than those recently published for January, 1951, and as the training colleges are not all full, will the right hon. Lady not regard this matter of the recruitment of teachers as one of dire emergency? Will she not call together the educational bodies of the country so that we can get down to a solution of this problem?

Miss Horsbrugh

I have discussed it and I am still discussing it both with the associations of teachers and with other educational bodies, but I would point out that the annual increase of 3,000 to 4,000 is a big increase. That will mean recruiting 14,000 extra teachers each year. I should like to recruit more, but we have to face these particular difficulties. That is the increase we are facing at the present, and I would also mention that we have provided more places in the training colleges.

Mr. M. MacPherson

Is the right hon. Lady aware that if this country is to maintain its present high standard of scientific work there will need to be a completely new approach to the question of obtaining scientists and mathematicians for the schools?

Miss Horsbrugh

I should like to obtain more scientists and mathematicians for the schools and, perhaps the hon. Member will tell us sometime what suggestions he can make towards that end.

Miss Ward

Has my right hon. Friend discussed the possibility of the introduction of equal pay for women teachers as a means of attracting more women teachers, who are essential in the teaching profession?

Miss Horsbrugh

Yes, Sir, I have discussed this on several occasions, but I would tell the House that at the present time of those girls who stay on at grammar schools to the age of 18 we get 70 per cent. going in for teaching, and we get one-third of the intake in the teaching profession from those who have gone into other professions and have come back into teaching.