HC Deb 27 June 1968 vol 767 cc787-8
6. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek powers to carry out a pro-science propaganda drive in secondary education; and what steps he is now taking to implement the recommendations made in the Dainton Report to counter the shortage of qualified scientists and mathematicians.

The Minister of State, Department of Education and Science (Mrs. Shirley Williams)

I need no new powers. The Department is conducting a recruiting drive for science and mathematics teachers among students. The Schools Council and the universities have established a joint working party to study the Dainton proposals for the sixth form curriculum. The Schools Council is working closely with the Nuffield Foundation in promoting experiments in new science courses, involving, in the secondary field, 230 schools in 86 areas. New in-service courses for science teachers are to be held at three universities this autumn.

Mr. Roberts

We all accept that my hon. Friend is treating the matter as one of great national urgency, but will she consider further methods by which early interest could be stimulated among boys and girls, particularly girls, in mathematics and science, perhaps by allowing more visits to Government establishments and even by co-operating to a small extent in Government research projects?

Mrs. Williams

The second part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question raises an interesting idea, which we shall look into. On the first part, we are endeavouring to encourage periods of working experience, not least in scientific establishments and science-based industry, for both boys and girls.

Mr. Evelyn King

Is it not better that pupils should make the best use of their natural abilities rather than be pressurised into subjects for which they are not suited?

Mrs. Williams

The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that we have a much lower proportion of girls taking up mathematics and science than almost any other country in the industrialised world. There may well be other causes apart from the desire not to do science or mathematics.