§ 30. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Education whether he will make a statement on the recommendations of the National Advisory Council on the Training and Supply of Teachers and what action he has taken to alleviate the shortage of teachers.
§ Sir E. BoyleI have told the Council that the Government are ready to consider some further expansion of the training colleges. I am at present studying advice which the Council recently offered me about how this expansion could best be undertaken. Meanwhile, the emergency measures to which I referred in the debate on 30th July last are already taking effect. This year's intake to the training colleges, which was expected to be smaller than the first two intakes to the three-year course of 1960 and 1961, has in fact reached a new record of over 17,000 students.
§ Mr. WilleyThe right hon. Gentleman will recognise that it is too late to avoid the difficulties in the primary schools, but will he take steps now to avoid the difficulties we had with the first bulge affecting the second bulge which is now entering the schools? Does he recognise that this does mean a crash programme for more teachers?
§ Sir E. BoyleI certainly recognise that this is by far the biggest problem affecting the educational world at present and I do not feel complacent about it. I am considering very carefully exactly how our investment in training colleges can produce the best possible return in terms of the output of teachers. Nevertheless, I think it was a very good achievement this year that, with no young trainees leaving the colleges, we were able to achieve an intake of 17,000. It 1395 was far better than any of us envisaged when we started the expansion programme a few years ago.
§ Mr. WilleyIn view of the gravity of the position, will the right hon. Gentleman make a statement to the House and tell us what steps he proposes to take?
§ Sir E. BoyleI cannot add any further to the Answer I gave this afternoon, but I can assure the hon. Member that this is a matter I am examining urgently.
§ Mr. JenningsIn examining the extension and expansion of training colleges, will my right hon. Friend look closely into the possibility of extending day training courses particularly with regard to education departments of provincial universities, where, I think, it would be much easier to deal with the shortage of teachers and their prospective training in the next five years, than the actual building of training colleges, as a short-term measure?
§ Sir E. BoyleI am much obliged to my hon. Friend. I can assure him that I am well aware of the fact that when we consider this matter we must bear in mind not merely the training colleges but the education departments of universities as well.