§ 2.53 p.m.
§ Baroness Blatch asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ What further action is planned following the launch on 17th May of the new educational materials designed to equip trainee teachers with an understanding of industry and commerce.
§ Baroness HooperMy Lords, the Government are funding a major programme for the dissemination of these materials to teacher training institutions. In particular, each institution will receive a free set of materials.
The project directors will also he undertaking a government-funded survey to review current industrial and commercial awareness work in initial teacher training courses. The survey results should provide helpful guidance as to the most effective use of industrial and commercial perspective materials within teacher training.
§ Baroness BlatchMy Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for her reply, and I congratulate the Government on a particularly exciting programme. With effect from 17th May and the launch of this scheme we are dealing with teachers who are in training but who are not yet in the classroom. I ask the Minister whether the scheme can be extended to those teachers who are willing to participate in the scheme and who are already in the classroom.
§ Baroness HooperMy Lords, initially, all industrial and commercial perspective materials arc to be distributed in the widest possible way to initial teacher training institutions. The means of dissemination will include conferences, workshops for tutors, consultancy services and the publication of project materials and their free distribution to teacher training institutions. We hope to widen the spread of distribution as much as possible.