HC Deb 14 February 1963 vol 671 cc1464-5
13 and 14. Mr. Boyden

asked the Minister of Education (1) if he will undertake a special campaign to recruit for the teaching profession men and women over 21 years of age at present employed in industry and commerce;

(2) if he will devise an emergency training programme for mature entrants to the teaching profession which would enable them to be paid salaries in training comparable with their former salaries in industry, and to take, subject to safeguarding standards, shortened courses in special training colleges.

Mr. Chataway

In the general drive to recruit more teachers considerable emphasis has been laid on the recruitment of older people to training; eight day colleges have been set up to cater specially for mature students and I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a recent pamphlet on late entrants issued by the Department and aimed at recruits from industries and commerce as well as at married women working at home. One year courses are provided in the four technical teacher training colleges and shortened courses are available in most other colleges for suitably qualified candidates. Training grants have recently been increased, and special allowances are now available in certain cases for older people to help make good losses in salary.

Mr. Boyden

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that I am sorry that he has lumped these two categories together, because they are very different? Does not the hon. Gentleman know that in the first place there are far too few places for mature students, even with the stepping up? Is he aware that there is in the country a considerable number of people, both younger and older, who could be recruited if, first, provision were made in the colleges and, secondly, adequate financial provision were made for older people with families?

Mr. Chataway

The hon. Member will be aware of the further increase in the size of teacher training colleges which has recently been announced. I share his wish to see more mature students coming into the teaching profession. In fact, the 2,250 students aged 25 or over who entered training colleges in 1961–62 included about 500 who were mostly people with industrial or commercial experience attending technical training colleges with a view to obtaining employment in further education.