HC Deb 08 December 1960 vol 631 cc1414-5
8. Mr. Boyden

asked the Minister of Education how many, and what percentage, of teachers in special schools at the beginning of the autumn term had received appropriate specialist training; how these figures compare with the beginning of the autumn term 1959; and how many certificated teachers are now attending full-time specialist training courses.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education (Mr. Kenneth Thompson)

As the Answer contains a number of figures, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Boyden

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that it is precisely in those areas of general shortage of teachers that there is a shortage of specialist teachers? What steps is he taking to persuade the local authorities there to release them for extra training? What steps is he taking to overcome the general shortage?

Mr. Thompson

There are 248 teachers attending full-time specialist training courses. We propose to increase this number and to make more places available in the years immediately ahead.

Following are the figures:

  1. 1. In January, 1960—the latest date for which figures are available—special qualifications were held by 505 or 81 per cent. of full time teachers in Special Schools for the deaf and 102 or 55 per cent. in schools for the blind and blind and partially sighted. The figures for the previous year were 517 or 83 per cent. and 96 or 54 per cent.
  2. 2. These are the only special schools in which a special qualification for permanent approval as a teacher is required.
  3. 3. No figures are available for other special schools.
  4. 4. The answer to the last part of the Question is 248.