§ Mr. ALBERT SMITHasked the President of the Board of Education (1) whether he is aware that the sixty-six National scholarships originally founded by the Science and Art Department were for 1735W industrial students, and were not to be awarded to the children of parents if their income exceeded £200; if these scholarships were discontinued in 1910, and for what reason; and if most of the aforementioned scholarships were awarded to students of secondary schools and not to students following industrial occupations; and (2) whether he is aware that the eighteen Royal scholarships originally founded by the Science and Art Department, and open to all British subjects, without limit of income, were increased to sixty in 1910; and, if so, will he take the necessary steps to alter the conditions of award so as to give industrial students attending evening classes some chance of being successful in the competitions for such scholarships?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNational scholarships were originally restricted to students of the industrial classes as defined in the Science and Art Directory—that is to say, to persons and the children of persons satisfying certain tests of occupation, income, or attendance at schools of particular categories. These limits were removed by the Science and Art Department in 1897 on the recommendation of the Departmental Committee appointed in 1896. No material changes in the conditions of award have been made for some years past. The scholarships have not been discontinued, but have been continued with a somewhat increased value under the name of Royal Scholarships. In this category both the former National Scholarships and the former Royal Exhibitions have been merged, and the total number of scholarships now available is eighty. Industrial students attending evening classes are eligible to compete for them, and, in fact, eighteen out of the twenty Royal Scholarships awarded in the year 1910 were won by students of that type.
§ Mr. ALBERT SMITHasked the President of the Board of Education if Circular 761 was received by local education authorities on 22nd February, 1911, which deals with qualifying tests for Royal scholarships, allowing only nine weeks to work through the syllabus of magnetism and electricity, a new subject specified and included under physics; if in previous years the students had to pass the qualifying subjects for National scholarships, and if in 1910 for the first time such examinations were held in September; and whether he proposes for the next two years to revert to the old conditions in 1736W force before 1910 until due notice can be given of the new conditions for the competitions?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe facts are not quite accurately stated in the question. The circular in question was issued on 17th February. Magnetism and electricity is not a new subject, but is one in which candidates have been required to produce evidence of qualification for some years past. The Board have not, in effect, made any alterations in their requirements as to the qualifications which shall be possessed by candidates to whom scholarships are awarded. They have merely taken steps to secure more certainly than hitherto that the qualifications which have always been required are, in fact, possessed by the scholarship holders. As at present advised, I see no reason to adopt the suggestion in the concluding paragraph of the question.
§ Mr. ALBERT SMITHasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that, in the list of qualifying subjects given in Circular 761, the examination in theoretical mechanics (fluids) is held on the same evening as geology, one of the competitive subjects in Group E, and that the examination in practical mathematics is held on the same evening as botany, one of the competitive subjects in Groups D and E; and, if so, what steps will be taken to enable students to work papers on both subjects?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe Board are aware that a few cases may possibly arise of the kind indicated in the question; they can in no circumstances be more than a very few; and where necessary alternative papers will be available to remove the difficulty.
§ Mr. ALBERT SMITHasked the President of the Board of Education whether he was aware that many of the students for Royal scholarships, Groups D and E, will have to work papers in twelve subjects, eight of which are qualifying subjects; whether, in the case of industrial students, these papers have to be worked after days spent in the workshop or mill; whether the Board of Education require first classes in all the preliminary subjects; and will a result be accepted instead of the present requirements?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANIf the hon. Member intends to imply that the eight subjects referred to must necessarily be taken at one and the same examination, the answer to the first part of the question is in the 1737W negative. Students are permitted to take the necessary qualifying subjects in successive years, without limitation of time, and this is, in fact, the almost universal practice. The answer to the third part of the question is in the affirmative, except as regards freehand drawing, for which a pass is accepted. I see no reason to make the change suggested in the concluding paragraph of the question.
§ Mr. ALBERT SMITHasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that it is proposed to hold the examinations in the qualifying subjects for Royal scholarships during May, 1911, thus cutting out some twelve weeks for study between then and September, in which month they were held in 1910; and, if so, whether he will alter the examinations to some time in September, seeing that sufficient notice has not been given?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANHaving regard to what has obviously been the purpose of the regulations for many years past, the Board do not consider that any grievance can properly be said to arise from the small change referred to. But if any individual cases are brought to the Board's notice of persons who, being not yet qualified in some of the requisite subjects, are examined in but fail to qualify in them at the coming May examinations, I will consider the possibility of giving those who have provisionally succeeded in the competition another opportunity in September, so far as this year is concerned. I may add that the change in the date of the qualifying examination from September to May is intended, among other things, to save candidates from the grave inconvenience of finding, on the eve of the college session, that they are disqualified by the test examination to hold the scholarship provisionally awarded to them in the examinations of the previous May.
§ Mr. ALBERT SMITHasked the President of the Board of Education if the conditions given in Circular 761, re qualifying tests for competition for Royal scholarships, refer to 1911 only, and if new conditions have to be published for 1912; and if notice of two or more years will be given before any alterations in the conditions of awards are made?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe conditions apply to the year 1911 only. The Board cannot pledge themselves to give two years' notice of every change, however trivial.