§ 2.38 p.m.
THE LORD BISHOP OF CHESTERMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is their intention to place any restrictions on the universities or colleges of education regarding the number of students in colleges of education, considered competent, who may take the examination for the B.Ed. degree; and, if so, what will be the nature and the extent of the restrictions.]
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, for the present Her Majesty's Government do not intend to place any restrictions on the number of students in colleges of education who may take the examination for the Education degree. At this stage in the development of courses, it is not possible to forecast the number of students who will apply to register for them, or how many will be accepted by the universities and colleges concerned. The Government are assuming, however, that the proportion of college students proceeding to a fourth year as this stage is first reached will be relatively small. It will be necessary to watch how the situation develops in the light of possible effects on the supply of teachers.
THE LORD BISHOP OF CHESTERMy Lords, may I thank the noble Baroness for the fullness and the courtesy of her reply, which will be received with great pleasure by the colleges of education? Also, may I ask her to bear in mind, in formulating policy in future, that there 878 will be a sense of injustice if some students who are considered competent are not allowed to take this degree? In addition, there will be a grave lack of economy, since many of the colleges of education have taken specialist teachers on to their staffs in order to train for the B.Ed. degree, and their effort will be wasted if they are not used to the full.
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, I thank the right reverend Prelate for what he has said. Perhaps it would help him if I quoted what has been said by the Brighton College of Education, at which I had the pleasure of speaking last week. They suggest that the selection of those proceeding to this degree will be based primarily on the student's performance during college and on taking the teacher's examination. In other words, there would appear to be no reason for any restriction of the kind the right reverend Prelate has indicated.