§ 58. Mr. Hannanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now considered the Second Report of the Departmental Committee on the Supply of Teachers in Scotland; and what action he proposes to take to meet the present shortage and future demands.
§ Mr. Henderson StewartI have discussed the problem of the supply of teachers with representatives of the Educational Institute of Scotland, the National Committee for the Training of Teachers and the Associations of local authorities concerned: and I have also considered memoranda on the problem which the Association of Directors of Education and the Associations of Headmasters and Headmistresses of Senior Secondary schools submitted at my invitation.
After taking full account of the views expressed my right hon. Friend has published draft regulations which propose that a person who has narrowly failed in one of the five subjects in the Scottish Leaving Certificate Examination should be admitted for training if the training authority are satisfied, after an interview, that the person is likely to become an efficient teacher.
On 14th May I gave a broadcast on the need for more teachers and I understand that since then the National Committee have received 250 applications from persons who desire to train as teachers. Other steps are under consideration and a further statement will be made in the course of the debate on the Education Estimates.