§ 18. Mr. Armstrongasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further proposals he has for the recruitment of mature entrants to the teaching profession; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. Anthony Crosland)The number of mature entrants to teacher training courses is rising year by year, but I am anxious to make training facilities more widely accessible to older men and women, most of whom are unable to go away from home to take a training course. Three new day colleges are planned to open in 1966 and other possibilities are being considered; a number of college "outposts" have been set up and others are being planned; and I have recently put to the national associations of teachers, local education authorities and others my proposals for the establishment of part-time training courses for older students whose personal circumstances make it difficult for them to undertake a full-time course.
§ Mr. ArmstrongI thank my right hon. Friend for that very encouraging reply, but in view of the very desperate need in the schools, will he now explore the situation in further education colleges, day training colleges and technical colleges, so that mature students who have family commitments and cannot travel long distances and also need staggered hours can be recruited to the profession, where they will be such an asset at this time?
§ Mr. CroslandI am certain that this source of recruitment will be of increasing importance in the next few years. I deal with day colleges in my Answer. I am certain that further education colleges will play their part in the experimental part-time training, and I think that I shall have something to say on teacher training in technical colleges in a very small number of months.