HC Deb 27 November 1980 vol 994 cc560-1
8. Mr. Kilfedder

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement regarding the future of the three sectarian teacher training colleges in Belfast.

The Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Philip Goodhart)

No decisions will be made on the future role of any of the teacher training institutions in Northern Ireland until all the comments on the recent Chilver report about the future structure of teacher training there have been received and studied. The closing date for comments is the end of November.

Mr. Kilfedder

Does not the Minister acknowledge that students who are potential teachers have already come down against sectarian teacher training colleges by enrolling at the education centres of the two universities and the Ulster polytechnic in far greater numbers than at the sectarian teacher training colleges? Does he realise that if he surrenders to the discriminatory demands of the Churches to keep the sectarian colleges in existence at the taxpayers' expense, he will be pandering to an outmoded and reactionary system of teacher training which wishes to keep people in ghettos?

Mr. Goodhart

As the hon. Gentleman will be well aware, there are genuine and deeply felt differences of opinion in Northern Ireland over religious matters, which necessarily have implications for the structure of the educational system at all levels. My noble Friend will be looking closely at all the representations that are made to him.

Mr. J. Enoch Powell

What is the justification for recognising the role of the Churches in education in the rest of the United Kingdom while denying it to the people of Northern Ireland?

Mr. Goodhart

None at all. I agree with the right hon. Gentleman.

Mr. McNamara

Can the hon. Gentleman amplify the statement which he made in reply to the right hon. Member for Down, South (Mr. Powell)? If people really believe that the prime responsibility for the education of their children rests upon the parents, and if the parents take a particular decision with regard to the philosophical and religious environment in which their children should be brought up, surely the State should support that and not deny it.

Mr. Goodhart

I do not think that I can expand further on my remarks to the right hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Pendry

I recognise some of the forceful arguments of the Chilver report on amalgamation, but does not the Minister accept that both the Roman Catholic and Presbyterian church leaders have expressed some doubts about the implementation of those proposals? Will be assure the House that there will be no forced merger on purely economic grounds? Will be proceed to announce the 1981 intake figures, lest he be considered to be prejudging this issue?

Mr. Goodhart

I cannot give the precise intake figures, but for the last seven years the proportion of students entering the two colleges in question has remained constant. I have every reason to think that the number will remain at about the same level in the coming year. I entirely accept that this matter should not be decided on wholly economic grounds.