HC Deb 14 March 1968 vol 760 cc1606-7
36. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the fall in recruitment of teachers to the special one-year course for teachers wishing to add Russian to their teaching subjects.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

The number of teachers attending the courses has fallen each year since 1964–65, although teachers successfully completing the course are entitled to a salary increment. Teaching of Russian in schools has expanded less rapidly than was expected when the courses were instituted.

Mr. Dalyell

What has become of the Government's plans whereby the teachers of clasics could become teachers of Russian through this one-year course?

Mrs. Williams

My hon. Friend will know that any teacher may submit himself for the one-year course and will receive an increment in his salary if he completes it. The difficulty appears to be largely in the demand for Russian speakers after they leave school. This lies much more deep in the general approach to exporting and selling by foreign languages than perhaps my hon. Friend's Question alone suggests.