HC Deb 31 May 1956 vol 553 cc434-5
37. Mrs. L. Jeger

asked the Minister of Education why he does not regard a graduate degree of the University of Calcutta as equivalent to a degree of an English university for the purpose of determining the status of a teacher.

The Minister of Education (Sir David Eccles)

I understand that neither the length nor the standard of ordinary degree courses at Calcutta University is equivalent to that of Universities in this country. It has, however, been the practice of my Department to accept for graduate status first class honours degrees or higher degrees of Calcutta University.

Mrs. Jeger

Is the Minister aware that the University of London does recognise this degree and has accepted for postgraduate studies a constituent of mine who holds the degree of bachelor of arts of the University of Calcutta? Is it not inconsistent for the Ministry to refuse to pay this man as a graduate teacher, and to continue to pay him as a nongraduate teacher, when in fact the University of London accepts him as a postgraduate student?

Sir D. Eccles

I am not aware of the practice of London University, but the constituent about whom the hon. Lady wrote to me obtained a pass degree on a two-year course only. I think she will appreciate that, as the bulk of our teachers here have done a two-year course and are not graduates, I can hardly recognise a course of that length as equivalent to the three-year course taken by teachers who have been to an ordinary university here.

Mr. Drayson

Can my right hon. Friend say whether he considers "failed B.A., Calcutta" as good as "failed B.A., London"?