§ Mr. HumeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the recent decision to exclude modern language options in primary B.Ed courses in Northern Ireland.
§ Dr. MawhinneyAt a time when a decline is expected in the demand for newly qualified primary teachers in Northern Ireland, the Department of Education has decided that teacher training institutions preparing such teachers should for the time being concentrate on those subjects that are compulsory for primary schools within the Northern Ireland common curriculum. Foreign languages are not part of the common curriculum at primary level and the Department has accordingly asked the institutions to cease offering such courses.
§ Mr. HumeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration was given to recent reports from the modern languages committee and the House of Lords Select Committee on foreign language provision in the primary sector prior to the Department of Education's decision to exclude modern language options in primary B.Ed courses in Northern Ireland.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThese reports have been considered by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science, who has not as a result altered his decision that foreign languages should not at present be part of the primary phases of the national curriculum in England and Wales. Consideration of these reports in Northern Ireland has also led to the conclusion that they do not provide a compelling reason for such a change in Northern Ireland, nor for a change in the decision about the subject content of teacher training courses for intending primary teachers.
§ Mr. HumeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will review the recent decision to exclude French from primary B.Ed courses in colleges of education in Northern Ireland.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe Department of Education reviews the intakes to the teacher training institutions annually, with the aim of ensuring that the number of newly qualified teachers and their range of subject expertise will be sufficient to meet the future needs of schools in Northern Ireland. The 1991 intakes recently advised to institutions reflect the Department's estimate of what will be required in 1995: consideration of schools' likely needs in 1996 will take place later this year.
§ Mr. HumeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list those organisations consulted regarding the decision to exclude modern language options in primary B.Ed courses in Northern Ireland;
(2) what consultations the Department of Education had on the inclusion of modern language teaching in primary B.Ed courses in colleges of education.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe decision is a logical consequence of the previous conclusion that such languages should not form part of the common curriculum for primary schools in Northern Ireland. A proposal to this effect was contained in the discussion document, "Education Reform in Northern Ireland—The Way Forward", published in 1988, in response to which comments from a very large number of individuals and organisations were received and considered.