§ 11. Mr. Shortasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education what consultations he is having with the teachers and the universities with a view to giving university status to the three-year training period.
§ Sir E. BoyleNone, Sir.
§ Mr. ShortIs the hon. Gentleman aware that those of us who are concerned about this matter feel that for the three-year training period to be really valuable it should confer some kind of university status on the teacher? Will he not at least consider the suggestion, which I made when he announced the three-year period, that there should be some arrangement between the training colleges and the universities so that the period confers some university status, either in the way of a first degree in education or something else? Is he aware that there is nothing that would raise the status of the teaching profession more than for it to become a graduate profession, and that this is the opportunity?
§ Sir E. BoyleAll these matters will be considered, but the three-year course at the training colleges will be good enough to stand on its own feet without 1318 having to call itself something else. We intend that the three-year training course shall justify itself on its own merits, though I will certainly bear in mind the points which the hon. Gentleman has made.