HC Deb 07 July 1987 vol 119 cc184-5
9. Mr. Matthew Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any proposals for improving the education of children with impaired hearing.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. Bob Dunn)

Special schools for children with impaired hearing are being reorganised in accordance with plans drawn up in consultation with local education authorities and the governing bodies of schools. Since April the in-service training of teachers to acquire qualifications to teach deaf children has been one of the national priority areas that attract 70 per cent. grant from my Department. We shall seek further ways to improve this area of education.

Mr. Taylor

Bearing in mind the tragic fact that two full-time permanent teaching posts will not be filled in Cornwall this September simply because there are not enough qualified teachers to fill them, will the Minister outline how many teachers he expects to complete such training during the 1987–88 academic year?

Mr. Dunn

I am concerned about the long-term supply of teachers of the deaf and about those who are concerned with teachers of the deaf. We have responded positively to the advice that we received some time ago from the Advisory Committee on the Supply and Education of Teachers. However, we shall take every step to monitor the situation, as suggested by the hon. Gentleman.

Dame Jill Knight

Will my hon. Friend confirm that fewer children are born today either with hearing defects or profoundly deaf? Will he assure the House that that fact will not mean that less money is spent in this important area of education?

Mr. Dunn

I agree with my hon. Friend and ban assure the House that we shall continue to ensure that local education authorities bear in mind the special needs of those with hearing difficulties to ensure that they are integrated into mainstream education as often as possible. I welcome my hon. Friend's point.

Mr. Ashley

Is the Minister aware that the reading age of the average deaf school leaver is only that of a child of 8½years and that that is a shocking indictment of a failed education system, because those children lack learning rather than intelligence? Will he ensure that every deaf child has access to all forms of communication so that the most appropriate form can be used? Will he also ensure that every training course for teachers of the deaf has provision for the teaching of sign language, which is of great importance for the deaf child?

Mr. Dunn

This is a complicated issue, as the right hon. Gentleman will know. The methods of communication that are used by schools for hearing-impaired children are matters for individual local education authorities. However, I assure the right hon. Gentleman that officials from my Department are soon to meet representatives of the National Union of the Deaf to discuss a recent report issued by it. I am sure that the point that he raised today will be on the agenda of that meeting.

Mr. Stern

In the light of the gap that may possibly develop during the next couple of years as the ACSET proposals work through and the teaching gap that may emerge at schools such as Elmfield school in my constituency, will my hon. Friend confirm that full use will be made of the speech therapists who are available to the education authorities and the surrounding health authorities to help to fill that gap?

Mr. Dunn

I am ready to discuss that matter with counterparts at the Department of Health and Social Security, as suggested by my hon. Friend.

Ms. Quin

Following the question raised by my right hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley), may we at least have an assurance that in public examinations pupils who are deaf can have questions put to them in the sign language which, for many, is their native language? Does the Minister agree that if those facilities are not provided the hard work that has been done by many deaf pupils will be jeopardised?

Mr. Dunn

I thank the hon. Lady for her question on a serious point. I shall certainly undertake to raise that matter with the examination boards.

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