Teachers (Hansard, 25 October 1967)

Mr. Edward M. Taylor
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he now has to deal with the shortage of teachers in Scotland.

§ Mr. Ross
I shall continue to take all steps open to me to increase the supply of teachers, including expansion of the colleges of education, the fullest use of the Special Recruitment Scheme and the encouragement of married women to return to teaching.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will initiate an inquiry into the causes of teacher wastage in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Millan
The main losses to teaching are well enough known—age retirement and the resignation of women teachers to bring up their families. The computer-based system of teacher records now being set up will make a detailed analysis possible of these and other relevant factors.

§ Mr. MacArthur
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the progress of teacher recruitment; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Ross
Detailed figures of the numbers of serving teachers for the current session will be available about the end of the year. I expect them to show a further sizeable increase. I am glad to say that provisional figures from the colleges of education for this session show that the number of intending teachers starting courses of training is about 5,100 which is 700 more than the 1966 figure. There are increases in both graduates and non-graduates.