§ 20. Mr. Charles Morrisonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will initiate a full inquiry into the system of training teachers.
§ Mr. CroslandI am still considering this recommendation of the Plowden Report.
§ Mr. MorrisonIs it not urgent that assistance for the training of teachers should be given priority consideration, and will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to speed up his decision as much as possible?
§ Mr. CroslandI agree that a considerable number of people, including the members of the Plowden Council, would like to see an inquiry of this kind. On the other hand, we have to bear in mind that the colleges of education have gone through many revolutionary changes almost in the last few years—the three-year course, the B.Ed., "Box and Cox", and all the rest—and the question is whether at this moment of time it would be right to put another rather serious burden of inquiry on them.
§ Mr. HornbyWhen looking into this, will the right hon. Gentleman consider also whether any possible inquiry should include the training of teachers' aides as well as of qualified teachers themselves?
§ Mr. CroslandI shall certainly consider that.