§ 28. Miss Herbisonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many students in 1953 were accepted for non-graduate teacher training in Scotland only after personal interview, as laid down by the latest Regulations.
§ Mr. Henderson StewartThe number is 57. In addition, my right hon. Friend authorised under the principal Regulations the entry after interview of eight students who were in the same position as those admitted except that they had taken the University Preliminary Examination instead of the Leaving Certificate Examination.
§ Miss HerbisonDoes the Minister not now realise how foolish he was in introducing these Regulations? Is it not the case that a small number, a little over 60, will add very few indeed to the number of teachers and that this has been done at the expense of lowering the status of every teacher in Scotland?
§ Mr. StewartNo, Sir. With regard to the latter part of the Question, there is no evidence whatever for that. The director of the Edinburgh College explained to the country the other day that the numbers coming in this year are 50 per cent. higher than ever before. The fact that we have 65 additional students coming along is surely not to be ignored.
§ Miss HerbisonIs the Minister not aware that a statement merely showing that there are 50 per cent. more in the college in Edinburgh does not in any way do away with the fact that all through the teaching profession in Scotland there is real anxiety about this lowering of status?
§ Mr. StewartI know there is anxiety in some places, but I do not think it is justified, because there is no lowering in any sense of the exit qualification. No woman can start teaching unless she passes all the necessary examinations.