§ 2. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Education how many students in Wales were unable in 1963 to gain admission to university college or to training college, respectively, although they had obtained the necessary qualification to be admitted.
§ Sir E. BoyleTwo hundred and fifty-nine applicants from Wales with the minimum academic qualifications did not get admission to training colleges this year. Twenty of these were classified by the Clearing House as acceptable, the remainder as borderline. So far as applications to universities are concerned, information is not at present available.
§ Mr. ThomasIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, if he had the information from the universities, it would be still more disturbing? Is it not ironic that, while there is a shortage of 10,000 teachers in recruitment each year, as he well knows, there are people clamouring to be trained as teachers and he has failed to make provision for them? Will the position be better next year?
§ Sir E. BoyleOver England and Wales as a whole last year, 814 acceptable candidates failed to gain admission. This year the total is down to 290. Therefore, the supply of training college places has been more than keeping in line with the number of really good applicants.