HC Deb 06 May 1971 vol 816 c1628
18. Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many candidates for the degree of bachelor of education there were in 1970; and how many were successful.

Mr. van Straubenzee

There were 2,417 candidates in 1970, of whom 2,268 were successful.

Mr. Hardy

Is the Minister satisfied with the present academic orientation of some of the courses and with the wide variation that appears to take place in the success rate among the different colleges? Is he taking any step to effect an improvement in the situation so that there can perhaps be a greater degree of standardisation in the success rate?

Mr. van Straubenzee

The academic content of the course and its organisation are not matters for me. The failure rates overall are remarkably low—currently 6.2 per cent. I am not aware of very great differences. If the hon. Gentleman has information which he would like to give me, I would be very willing to consider it.