Teaching Unions (Hansard, 31 October 1988)

2. Dr. Thomas
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met representatives of the teaching unions in Wales; and what matters were discussed.

§ The Minister of State, Welsh Office (Mr. Wyn Roberts)
I met representatives of the National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers on 20 October 1988 and representatives of the Secondary Headteachers Association and the Welsh Secondary Schools Association on 21 October 1988. On both occasions a range of matters relating to the provisions of the Education Reform Act 1988 were discussed.

Dr. Thomas
During those meetings, did the Minister dicuss the work of the Curriculum Council for Wales? Did he tell the unions that he intends that the council should cover the entire range of curricula activities in Wales, that the council is on a par with the Curriculum Council for England, and that its activities will not be limited to certain aspects of Welsh culture or Welsh curriculum content?

§ Mr. Roberts
The work of the council arose at the meetings. I think the hon. Gentleman realises that its final remit was issued on 12 October. The council's role is to offer advice on all aspects of the school curriculum, including the national curriculum in Wales, to carry out research and curriculum development work and to disseminate information in Wales on all matters to do with the school curriculum. Initially, the council is concentrating on our proposals for mathematics and science. It is preparing early advice on the need for teacher training.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
I support the general principle of the Welsh language being a foundation subject in the school curriculum, but will my hon. Friend bear in mind the concern that is being expressed in Pembrokeshire by parents and teachers in schools where there is no tradition of teaching Welsh and no demand for it? If these schools should make a request to be exempt from the teaching of Welsh as part of the core curriculum, will my hon. Friend listen with care and concern and ensure that their considerations are given the highest priority?

§ Mr. Roberts
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his general support for Welsh being a foundation subject. He will be aware that it is precisely because of the possibility of a situation such as that to which he referred that we 648 have made provision for exemption under the Education Reform Act 1988. We hope that the power of exemption that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has will not been used extensively in Wales.

§ Mr. Barry Jones
May I tell the Minister of the dismay of teachers unions in Clwyd, and of parents and staff, concerning Ysgol Belmont, a special school where work experience for slow learners is in danger of foundering in the next year because of a lack of only £3,000? Will the Minister use his good offices with the Training Commission and the local education authority so that a valuable scheme that prepares pupils of older age for work after leaving school can survive? Will he be able to find the money to help the scheme?

§ Mr. Roberts
If the hon. Gentleman will write to me about the matter, as I am sure he will, I shall be happy to examine the details.

Mr. Alan Williams
When the Minister met the teachers, did he discuss the future impact on sixth forms of the preposterous and reactionary document which has been produced by the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science with responsibility for higher education—it was circulated on 25 July—which envisages the end of free higher education and the introduction of higher education vouchers based on examination results instead of ability to pay and need? The document presages the encouragement of universities to charge fees over and above the fees that are refunded by the local authorities and suggests that the shortage of teachers will be met by allowing classes to grow larger, not by training more teachers. It even suggests that there needs to be a cut in the number of youngsters who are training to be doctors, vets and dentists. What status does the document have? I notice that the letter from the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, which led to the production of the document, was addressed precisely to the Minister.

§ Mr. Roberts
The right hon. Gentleman's interpretation of that document is completely at variance with its actual content. He will not be very surprised to learn that none of the unions that I met raised the subject of that document.

§ Sir Raymond Gower
Has my hon. Friend noticed the remarkable progress of Welsh-medium schools in Anglicised areas such as parts of my constituency and around Cardiff and Newport? To what extent is that an extra consideration for assisting those schools?

§ Mr. Roberts
I welcome, with my hon. Friend, the development of Welsh-medium schools. He will be aware that we tried to increase the number of teachers capable of teaching through the medium of Welsh. We are actively engaged in that. That is one positive form of help that those schools appreciate which we are pursuing.