HC Deb 01 April 1971 vol 814 cc1657-8
12. Mr. Scott-Hopkins

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students at teacher training colleges have failed to qualify in 1970; and how many, having qualified, have taken employment outside the teaching profession.

Mr. van Straubenzee

Information relating to 1970 is not yet available. In 1969, 1,119 students completing their training failed the final examination. Of the 28,213 non-graduate students successfully completing training in that year, about 24,000 had entered maintained primary and secondary schools by February, 1970. More than half of the remainder were continuing their studies.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

Would my hon. Friend not agree that this figure of dropout shows exactly the same kind of proportion as has happened in regard to students in universities? Does not some investigation need to be made to see that State money is not wasted in giving training to people who at the end of the day do not follow it up?

Mr. van Straubenzee

These are not comparable figures. I am being asked about those who have completed their training, and I am pointing to the fact that a very small percentage is unaccounted for. It is reasonable on previous figures to suppose that a considerable number of those people, after a break, go into the profession for which they are trained.