§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment with what scientific professional and academic organisations he has had discussions on(a) the improvement of the school scientific laboratory infrastructure and (b) the laboratory teaching of (i) physics, (ii) chemistry, (iii) biology, (iv) environmental sciences and (v) other sciences. [91279]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeI, my ministerial colleagues and officials have regular meetings with a number of academic and professional organisations, notably the Association for Science Education, to discuss various aspects of science teaching. We have had no meetings specifically to discuss school scientific laboratory infrastructure and teaching, but we are considering how
Home Domiciled Entrants to Higher Education Courses1 England and Wales 19932 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Undergraduate Under 21 194,656 199,151 200,754 204,118 216,936 217,365 21 and over 203,210 210,317 228,552 226,085 220,906 218,494 Postgraduate 99,083 122,974 126,254 118,876 123,841 129,373 Total entrants 496,949 532,442 555,560 549,079 561,683 565,232 Note:
1. Full-time and part-time courses. Excluding HE students in FE colleges.
2. Figures for 1993 were collected on a different basis to those in later years. Includes a small number of HE students in FE colleges in Wales.
The available information on non-completion consists of UK level full-time and sandwich first degree non-completion rates published in the Departmental Annual Report. The table shows these non-completion rates for the same period:
160W
UK1 Full-time and sandwich first degree non-completion rates Percentage Year Non-completion2 1993–94 317–18 1994–95 317–18 1995–96 318–19 1996–97 4n/a 1997–98 4n/a 1998–99 4n/a best to work together with relevant organisations on this and other areas. We are committed to developing partnerships with such organisations to improve standards in all subjects, including science, and I will be working to improve and expand such partnerships in the coming months.