HC Deb 24 March 1986 vol 94 cc601-2
12. Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department has had any discussions with the Welsh Joint Education Committee about the level of funding necessary to enable it to provide course materials for the new general certificate of secondary education for those children taking such examinations through the medium of the Welsh language in June 1988; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

The responsibility for co-ordinating the introduction of GCSE rests with the Secondary Examination Council, acting in conjuction with the Welsh Joint Education Committee in Wales, and there has therefore been no discussion between my Department and the WJEC on that subject.

The resourcing of individual schools, including the provision of course materials in Welsh, is a matter for local education authorities. However, following the Government's announcement on 13 March, an additional £1.18 million is being made available to Welsh local education authorities in 1986–87 and 1987–88 specifically for the provision of books and equipment for the GCSE.

A further £15,000—additional to the £45,000 already provided—is being made available in Wales for teacher training for the new examination, and we are actively considering another WJEC written request for £150,000 for further teacher training in 1986–87 and 1987–88.

Mr. Wigley

Is the Minister aware that, although the examination is generally welcomed, there is a real worry that teachers will not be trained in time to start the course in September this year? Gwynedd alone needs about £660,000 to launch the course. The money that has been made available is simply not adequate for the purpose. Will the Minister undertake to reconsider? Would it not be better to start the examination a year later than to make it a political football this year?

Mr. Roberts

The money that has been made available for training is precisely what the WJEC requested of us. Training is very much up to the teachers. In Gwynedd, they have not been assisted at all by head teachers preventing them from attending training courses. There will be further opportunities for them, however, including the two days before the end of the summer term.