§ 13. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Education if he will make a statement on the course in French language and institutions at the University of Poitiers for training college students t whether similar courses are in operation at present; and what plans he has for organising similar courses at other centres abroad in other languages.
§ Mr. ChatawayThis six-month course in France was introduced experimentally when the training college course was extended to three years. In 1961, 75 selected students training to teach French attended the first course at the University of Poitiers at Tours. Another 60 started the second course at Tours last July. A similar course for 25 students was held earlier this year at the University of Caen. My right hon. Friend hopes to announce shortly the arrangements to he made for next year. He has no plans for similar courses in other languages.
§ Mr. BoydenI am sure that the House is grateful for that information and for the success of those particular courses in France. Will the hon. Gentleman consider arranging courses in German, Italian and, possibly, Russian in order that there may he a wider spread of interest in foreign language education?
§ Mr. ChatawayAt the moment, it is a very small proportion of the students at these training colleges who are studying languages other than French. Should the numbers rise, that suggestion will be taken into consideration.
§ Mr. BoydenWill the Minister take steps to stimulate progress? It is only by the growth of wider interest at the training colleges that there will be a spread of interest in other languages.
§ Mr. ChatawayThe demands of the schools probably are changing ill this respect, and the teacher training colleges are very responsive to those changes.