HC Deb 26 May 1965 vol 713 cc595-6
19. Mr. Buchan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the response to the campaign on the special recruitment scheme for teachers.

Mrs. Hart

Since the campaign was launched on 12th April the encouraging total of 5,743 applications for information about the scheme has been received.

Mr. Buchan

I thank the Minister for her reply. Has she any idea what the relevant proportions have been in the past between those applying for admission and those who have passed the course? Secondly, she deserves congratulation for the very big response there has been. [HON. MEMBERS: "Reading."] I am not reading. I am looking at the figures. Thirdly, would she try to bring what pressure she can on the universities so that adult students entering adult education at universities do not first have to go through an unnecessary period of adolescent education?

Mrs. Hart

I thank my hon. Friend for his reception of these figures. We do not have figures relating precisely to actual applications in the past. But I have received today a preliminary set of figures from Jordanhill College of Education indicating that of the first 35 applicants who have already been interviewed and who have come in under the new campaign only one has had to be rejected. Eleven have been accepted. Nine are to be further considered. Twelve have to acquire preliminary qualifications, but it is thought that they can go ahead and do that. Two come into special categories. This is encouraging. If the number of actual applications follow this pattern, the scheme should yield good results. We have discussed with the various bodies concerned the need for the right kind of advice to be given to adult students who require perhaps one further pass on the higher grade before entering a college of education. The kind of advice which is given to them will be realistic and helpful. I hope this will improve the quality of the scheme.

Mr. Buchan

Is there any opportunity of persuading the universities that, when there is a shortage of places on a course, priority should be given to the adult students under this scheme?

Mrs. Hart

We must wait to see what the extent of the actual applications is under the new campaign. If we find that we are running into difficulty—I do not expect this to happen, but if we should run into difficulty about shortage of places—we shall have to consider the problems involved and discuss them with the universities. That is all that can be said at this moment until we see what the final results are.