HC Deb 20 April 1967 vol 745 cc777-8
5. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made with the Government's pilot scheme to train women part-time to become teachers; and what plans he has to extend the scheme.

The Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. Anthony Crosland)

Three colleges and one university department of education have recently started experimental part-time courses. Four more colleges will start courses next September and another in 1968. I shall watch these experiments most carefully, and if they are successful shall seek to expand this form of training still further.

Mr. Roberts

Will my right lion. Friend consider the extension of this scheme to colleges of technology which have already made a considerable contribution to teacher training on a part-time basis with things like the diploma in mathematics? Will he also consider the special relevance of schemes of this type to engineering areas like South Bedfordshire?

Mr. Crosland

I will certainly consider both points. My hon. Friend will know that we have now started, experimentally, five departments of education in technical colleges in different parts of the country and it may be wise to see how this experiment goes before we extend it. However, I am not out of sympathy with what my hon. Friend has said.

Sir E. Boyle

I appreciate the right hon. Gentleman's last remark. However, is he aware that many of us feel, particularly about part-time training, that the C.N.A. sector, if I may put it that way, may have a notable part to play in teacher training and that we hope that he will not exclude this possibility?

Mr. Crosland

I certainly do not exclude it. As the right hon. Gentleman will know, one is rightly bound to give a certain element of free choice and the fact was that these five departments of education in technical colleges were allowed to choose between C.N.A. or going to the institutes for their degrees, and they all chose to go to the institutes.