HC Deb 14 June 1956 vol 554 cc752-3
34. Mrs. Jeger

asked the Minister of Education what considerations determine the recognition of foreign degrees by his Department for the purpose of graduate teachers' allowances.

Sir D. Eccles

I have to consider how the degrees compare with those awarded by universities in this country as regards the standard of entry required for the courses their length and the depth and scope of the study involved.

Mrs. Jeger

Is it not anomalous that there are degrees which are recognised by universities in this country for postgraduate purposes and yet the holders are being treated by the right hon. Gentleman's Ministry as undergraduates or as if they had never been near a university at all? Will he look into the matter again to see whether his practice cannot accord with that of the universities of this country?

Sir D. Eccles

I am bound to say that I do not think the case which the hon. Lady has quoted is the same. The requirements for recognition for postgraduate courses are not the same as the requirements for recognition for payment as a graduate teacher. I do not think the teaching profession—quite rightly—would wish to have a degree such as the pass degree in the Calcutta University recognised as a degree here.

Mr. M. Stewart

If the University of London, as I believe it does, regards a pass degree at Calcutta as qualifying a man to be regarded as a graduate and, therefore, capable of going on to postgraduate studies, on what basis does the right hon. Gentleman say that he will not regard such a man as a graduate?

Sir D. Eccles

On the basis that I have to maintain the standards of the teaching profession. London University can do what it likes—I am glad to say that it is a free institution—but the two-year course in Calcutta University does not come up to the standard which we require for a graduate teacher in this country.

Mr. Stewart

From where does the right hon. Gentleman get his standards if he does not pay some regard to the opinions of universities, who are probably the best authorities to judge in a matter like this?

Sir D. Eccles

I take the standard from the great deal of experience which we have. If we started recognising two-year courses of this kind as equivalent to the three-year course in an English university, we should have the whole of the two-year teacher training college students saying that they were graduates.

Mr. Stewart

I am not asking the right hon. Gentleman to recognise any two-year course at any university but to consider the proposition that, if a notable British university regards a man as a graduate, it is curious that the Minister says he is not a graduate.

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