Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that, by the present system of selecting candidates for admission into residential training colleges, a number of student teachers who have proved themselves excellent teachers and who have passed the examinations which qualify them as candidates for admission into those colleges, are unable to gain admission; that many of them are unable to get a situation as teacher, and that many of them, owing to their parents not being in a position to give them tuition until there is a vacancy in a training college, have to give up all hope of becoming teachers, and have to accept employment of a nature for which they are not so well qualified; and whether, under those circumstances, he will take steps to secure that when a student teacher has proved an efficient teacher it shall be a recommendation for admission into a training college?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANA large number of new training colleges have been provided during the past few years, and others are in course of erection. I am aware, however, that notwithstanding this increase the available accommodation is not sufficient to provide for all qualified candidates who apply for admission. Inquiries which the Board have instituted tend to show that no widespread difficulties peculiar to 629W student teachers have yet arisen, and special arrangements have been made, I think successfully, to meet as far as possible such difficulties as have been brought to their notice. I do not think it would be advisable to require training college authorities to give a preference to student teachers, over other candidates in filling their vacancies, as the hon. Member appears to suggest in the last paragraph of his question.