§ 2. Mrs. Joyce Butlerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will send a circular to teacher training colleges asking them to consider making arrangements on an experimental basis to admit a limited number of suitably qualified married women for courses during normal school hours.
The Minister of State, Department of Education and Science (Mr. Coronwy Roberts)My right hon. Friend has asked local education authorities and institutes of education in three areas to prepare experimental schemes of teacher training involving part-time attendance. Some of the courses will be specially designed to meet the needs of married women who can attend during the daytime but not on a full-time basis.
§ Mrs. ButlerWhile thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, which will go a considerable way towards ending the frustration felt by capable married women in this respect, may I ask him whether he could give any indication about whether a report on this matter will be published or made available, or what result is expected from these experimental schemes, and how it will be made known?
Mr. RobertsWe hope to get from these pilot courses information about the feasibility and prospect of wider developments. I am sure that my hon. Friend's suggestion about a report is well worth consideration.